Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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855. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the Government’s nationwide strategy on step-down accommodation when a person leaves a domestic violence refuge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52050/22]

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Government has published the Zero Tolerancestrategy to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Led by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, the strategy is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept domestic, sexual and gender-based violence or the attitudes which underpin it.

The strategy is built on four pillars – Protection, Prevention, Prosecution and Policy Co-ordination – and the accompanying implementation plan contains 144 detailed actions to be implemented this year and next through new oversight structures.

The actions are drawn from across Government departments and State agencies to reflect the fact that Zero Tolerancecan only be achieved through a whole of society effort, and that domestic, sexual and gender-based violence cannot be treated as a criminal justice issue alone.

Action 2.3.3 in the strategy is to develop clear pathways into longer term accommodation/homes out of refuge and other forms of emergency accommodation. Linked to the Housing for Allplan and an update and review of the 2017 guidance for housing authorities for assisting victims (from a DSGBV perspective).

In the 2022-2023 implementation plan, it is intended to develop an inter-departmental plan setting out a framework for the development and delivery of additional safe accommodation, including step down facilities, for victims of domestic violence and for pathways into longer-term accommodation.

The lead for this action is the Department of Justice, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, supported by Tusla, commissioned services, local authorities and specialist and community-based support organisations.