Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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613. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a breakdown of the number of the domestic violence refuge beds and spaces available by county for each of the past five years in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50357/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. Pending establishment of the Agency, responsibility for the commissioning of domestic violence services remains the responsibility of Tusla until services formally transfer to the new DSGBV agency.

In relation to the specific information sought by the Deputy, I have referred the question to Tusla for direct reply.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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614. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her Department’s plan going forward to expand the availability of domestic violence refuge in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50358/22]

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 June, I brought to Government Zero Tolerance: 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. As part of this it contains actions for nationwide delivery of refuge accommodation.

The Strategy commits to delivering additional refuge spaces nationally to address the current shortfall, double the number of refuge spaces in the medium term, and meet the targets set out in the Istanbul Convention in the longer term. This effect of the implementation of the Strategy will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces over the next 5 years. By the end of the strategy we aim to have over 280 refuge spaces, and we will also work to deliver additional safe homes as a key part of this.

As the Deputy will be aware, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, 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. Further analysis, as well as the work of an Inter-Departmental Group on the provision of domestic violence accommodation, has identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of additional 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 across the country.

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

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 while ensuring a high standard of quality.

It is envisaged that development of refuges in the priority areas will be characterised by local interagency working, with key stakeholders involved throughout the process. I have secured resources to make a range of supports available to organisations and communities taking forward development of refuges and associated services, including project management support and resourcing to bring staffing and organisational processes to the level required for operation of these sensitive, high-risk services.

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.