Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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113. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 6 July 2021, the status of the strategic review by Tusla of emergency domestic violence accommodation nationwide; when the review will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48523/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I appreciate the Deputy’s ongoing interest in relation to Tusla’s Accommodation Review. I know the Deputy is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and care for victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. I share the Deputy's concern on this matter.

Following my last reply to the Deputy on this question in early July, I am pleased to confirm that the Review has been completed. The draft is undergoing final edits before publication. Once this process is completed, the Review will be published by Tusla, in the coming weeks. The Review is a further part of my commitment to prioritising and supporting victims of DSGBV.

In mid July, Minister for Justice and I jointly submitted a memorandum to the Government on matters relating to DSGBV. We asked the Government to note Tusla’s Review, which will present recommendations on the future configuration of accommodation and services that are required to meet the needs of victims of DSGBV.

Minister Naughton and I received a presentation on the Review from Tusla in relation to the approach taken in its review, its analysis and conclusion.

On 23 September, Tusla gave a presentation to all stakeholders attending the Monitoring Committee for the Second National Strategy on DSGBV, with a view to achieving a national consensus within the sector on the proposed response to these needs.

Implementing the recommendations of this Review will require funding commitments and strong engagement across Government and key stakeholders. I have written to the Minister for Housing, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Social Protection to make them aware of the Review. I have asked them to consider its findings when taking broader Government decisions towards the development of the Third National DSGBV Strategy.

As capital funding for domestic violence refuges has been provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the development of future refuges requires strong engagement between My Department and Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Minister O'Brien and I are constructively engaging on this matter.

The Deputy will note the specific commitment on capital funding outlined in the National Development Plan published this week. In line with the government’s commitment to tackle sexual, domestic and gender based violence in all its forms, we will support the development of refuges for victims of sexual, domestic and gender based violence.

It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I am committed to ensuring future service provision is available for those who experience domestic violence, when and where they need it most.