Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the additional supports being put in place in County Cavan to support victims of domestic violence on a long-term basis; if his Department will review the need for a dedicated refuge in these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56203/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Overall policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013. Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation for victims of DSGBV, is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

I am informed by Tusla that support for victims of Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) in County Cavan is available through the services of Tearmann, which is based in Monaghan and funded by Tusla. Tearmann also provides outreach services in County Cavan. While there is no purpose-built refuge facility in this county at present, women can avail of emergency domestic violence accommodation in Counties Louth and Meath, where there are three refuges supported by Tusla. I am advised by Tusla that it has had some engagement with various local stakeholders about potential future refuge developments in this county.

Tusla’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation and has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities. The Review has been completed and is undergoing the final edit for publication. It is intended to publish the Review this month. Therefore, at present, I am not in a position to confirm if funding for refuges for victims of DSGBV will be established in County Cavan. However, in Budget 2022, Tusla has been allocated an additional €41 million over the 2021 allocation. I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.

My Department will be guided by the recommendations of the Review. I expect that the implementation process for the Review will identify priority areas where there is greatest urgency in achieving safe accommodation for victims of DSGBV. This process will also be guided by the Review in the consideration for refuge spaces over the longer term. The Review represents my commitment to prioritising and supporting victims of DSGBV. Implementation will require collaboration from a range of statutory and other bodies. My Department continues to engage with Tusla, Non-Government Organisations that play a key role in this area, and other relevant Government Departments and Agencies (particularly the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Justice) to progress work in this area.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the locations in counties Cavan and Monaghan that victims of domestic violence can seek refuge accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic in the absence of domestic refuge spaces. [56204/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I appreciate the Deputy's concern in relation to this issue and I am aware that she has engaged with my Department on this matter on numerous occasions.

I am informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that supports for victims of Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) in counties Cavan and Monaghan are available through the services of Tearmann, which is based in Monaghan and funded by Tusla. Tearmann also provides outreach services in several locations in both counties. While there is no purpose-built refuge facility in these counties at present, women can avail of emergency domestic violence accommodation in Counties Louth and Meath, where there are three refuges supported by Tusla. I am advised by Tusla that it has had some engagement with various local stakeholders about potential future refuge developments in these counties.

I prioritised resources for Tusla in the Budget for 2021, so that it is meeting the needs of victims of DSGBV. This is particularly important in the context of COVID-19. Tusla designated services for victims of DSGBV as one of the Agency's top three priority service areas during the pandemic.

My Department is providing Tusla with core funding of €30 million this year to fund DSGBV services. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. In Budget 2022, Tusla has been allocated an additional €41 million over the 2021 allocation. I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.