John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

83. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s strategy to deliver increased domestic violence refuge provision across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28466/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for highlighting this matter. I have spoken to the House on this issue previously. I am aware of the importance and need for refuge provision across the country.  

The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross-Departmental and multi-agency issue.

With input from the Taoiseach, Minister McEntee and I have worked intensively with our officials on the Audit of the segmentation of Government’s response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence and how the results of that Audit fits with the, soon to be published, Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence .

As a result of those discussions and in response to the Audit, it has been agreed that the Department of Justice will be the lead Department with responsibility for responding to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, and that responsibility for policy, accommodation and services will also sit within the Department of Justice. Tusla will continue to have responsibility for accommodation and services while the new administrative arrangements are put in place.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides supports for victims of domestic violence primarily through funded NGO service providers.

In 2021, Tusla allocated €28m in core funding for DSGBV services plus €2m in contingency funding to address challenges arising from COVID-19.

Overall funding of measures to deal with Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence has increased from €23.8m in 2018 to approximately €31m in 2022. Funding in 2022 will support services to address cost pressures and maintain continuity of services.

Tusla published it's ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ in mid February of this year. The Review assesses distribution of safe emergency accommodation and examined the level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities. 

An Inter-Departmental Group, led by a senior official in the Department of Justice, has been established to examine the physical delivery of refuge accommodation, identify obstructions to delivery, address the perception of significant delays in provision and identify how they can be shortened.

Priority areas have been identified where there is greatest urgency in achieving safe accommodation for victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. There will be engagement with local authorities, Government departments and State agencies to source refuge provision. Work continues with partners to improve access to services and supports for victims.