Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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514. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in providing a refuge centre in counties Cavan and Monaghan for victims of domestic abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35693/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is my intention that every person who needs a refuge space will have access to one.  I fully acknowledge the need for a significant increase in the provision of refuge spaces and I am committed to achieving this in order to ensure that victims have a safe place when they need it.  

Last week, I brought to Government the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The Strategy has a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring victims are better supported. It contains actions for nationwide delivery of refuge accommodation.

As a start, the Strategy commits to doubling the number of refuge places. This will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces. By the end of the strategy we will have over 280 refuge spaces, and we will also work to deliver additional safe homes and step down accommodation as a key part of this.

As the Deputy will be aware, Tusla, the Child and Family Service, completed a review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence which identified a number of priority locations where there is a particular urgency.  It is my intention to use the findings of this review as one of the ways to address gaps in the provision of refuge places.

A key recommendation of the Tusla review  is to provide more safe accommodation with a focus on short-term safe ‘emergency’ accommodation. Based on analysis at the time, it found a minimum of between 50 and 60 new refuge places are needed as a priority.  Further analysis and the work of an Inter-Departmental Group on the provision of domestic violence accommodation identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces would have the most impact, if prioritised.

These locations represent areas where there is the most significant under-provision and are a starting point to increasing refuge spaces comprehensively.

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

A practical approach will be taken to achieve targets as many factors can influence the speed at which a project is delivered such as, the identification of a suitable site or building, planning processes, tendering processes, appointment of contractors, etc. The areas identified are a priority for the development of refuge accommodation and every effort will be made to ensure this happens as speedily as possible.

As part of the work to implement the Third National Strategy, my Department will advance the recommendations made in the Tusla review to both improve how, and how quickly, we deliver refuge spaces.

The Strategy contains actions for doing so both in the immediate and longer term and commits to the delivery of 24 refuge places currently underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by 2024 with all units in priority locations delivered by the end of the Strategy in 2026.