Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the timeline for the provision of domestic violence refuges in counties in counties Cavan and Monaghan; if a funding stream is in place for these capital works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16187/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that it is my goal that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am deeply committed to working with our partners in the sector and with my Government colleagues to achieve that.

This Government has prioritised tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities.

As the Deputy is aware, I am currently leading work on a new whole of government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. This new plan will have a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring victims are better supported.

It is my intention to publish the final strategy and accompanying action plan as soon as possible in the coming weeks.

Minister O’Gorman and I also commissioned an independent audit of how responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender based violence is segmented across Government.

On foot of this, it has been agreed that my Department will assume responsibility for services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, in addition to policy responsibility and overall cross-Government coordination of implementation.

A detailed plan setting out how this will work is in preparation.

In February, Minister O’Gorman and I published the review by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, of accommodation for victims of domestic violence

While the review says that a minimum of between 50 and 60 new refuge places are needed as a priority, further analysis has identified 10 locations nationwide where the delivery of 82 family refuge spaces would have the most impact if prioritised.

These locations and refuge need have been chosen on the basis of required proximity to a refuge, as well as a need for refuge spaces per population in densely populated areas.

These represent areas where there is the most significant under-provision and represent a starting point to increasing refuge spaces comprehensively and in every county across the country.

The initial areas identified in the Tusla review include Cavan/Monaghan, where eight family places are suggested as a starting point for prioritisation.

I fully acknowledge the need to dramatically increase the provision of refuges and that key to this will be ensuring organisations can access funding.

My Department has established a high level Inter-Departmental Group to review the current system for the provision of refuge spaces and to identify changes that can be made to the system to deliver additional spaces as effectively as possible.

The timelines for delivery of these places, as well as further targets for nationwide delivery of refuge accommodation, will be outlined in the third national strategy and further detail will be contained in the accompanying action plan.