Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she can give commitments to reach the number of refuge places for those leaving domestic violence situations that would bring Ireland in line with the Istanbul Convention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35986/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The government in its Zero Tolerance Plan, the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, has committed to the fastest ever expansion in the number of refuge spaces. Through the implementation of the strategy, we will double the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of this plan, while we put in place the required structures to deliver the higher Istanbul target after that. Doubling the number of refuge spaces will allow Ireland to meet the minimum standard obligation set out in the Istanbul convention. In parallel we will look at the mechanisms necessary to enable victims to stay safely in their own homes.

Through the implementation of the Second National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, Ireland was able to meet the requirements to ratify the Istanbul Convention which was a priority for Government. The actions delivered under the second national DSGBV strategy enabled this to be done in March 2019.

Guidance provided by the Council of Europe sets minimum and aspirational standards for the provision of shelter places.

As we are starting from a low base, the ambition is to meet the minimum standard obligation in the Strategy’s lifetime which would be the fastest expansion of refuges in the history of the State. I have also committed to going beyond this and reaching the higher standard outlined in the Istanbul guidance, in parallel with looking at mechanisms to enable victims to stay safely in their own homes.

As the Deputy is aware, Tusla completed a review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence which identifies priority locations where there is a particular urgency and found that a minimum of between 50 and 60 new refuge places are needed as a priority.

Therefore, as a start, the Strategy commits to doubling the number of refuge places over the next 5 years, i.e., 280 refuge spaces, which is one element of the requirement. I regard the delivery of additional safe homes and step down accommodation as a key part of this so this is also a priority.

Further analysis, as well as the work of an Interdepartmental group on the provision of domestic violence accommodation, has 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 and in every county across the country. It commits to the delivery of 24 refuge places currently being developed in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by 2024 with all units in priority locations to be delivered by the end of the Strategy.

Through the development of a new Domestic Violence agency, as well as new structures and processes, we will be able to scale up the number of refuge spaces which we can deliver each year.

This means that we will be delivering a much higher number of new refuge spaces towards the end of the strategy, than at the beginning of the strategy, with the aim of reaching the minimum standard by 2026, and I expect this higher rate of delivery would continue beyond this strategy until we have reached our Istanbul targets.

We have to recognise that, despite the best efforts of many dedicated people, historically there has been underprovision in this area resulting in a significant deficit in the availability of safe spaces in Ireland so existing provision is low. I believe, however, that the targets set out in the Strategy are ambitious but achievable and that the changes we will make to the system for the delivery of refuge spaces which will ensure that women and men who seek safety will have refuge available to them.