Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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297. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the interdepartmental group with responsibility for refuge provision in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52615/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance policy to address Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this.

In line with the priority which this government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence, we will double the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the strategy, bringing it to 280.

The Tusla review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence identified priority locations where between 50 and 60 new refuge places are needed.

Further analysis undertaken identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces would have the most impact if prioritised.

In the initial phase of this work, we expect to have delivered 24 places in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by 2024. The delivery of additional safe homes is also a key part of the response and it is expected to increase the number of safe homes by 15 this year.

In addition, by putting in place the correct structures to deliver additional refuge accommodation now, including the development of a new statutory agency, we will accelerate the number of additional spaces that can be opened each year.

Already, work undertaken implementing the Strategy has prepared the way for this, including a very significant increase in funding under Budget 2023.

As the Deputy has mentioned, an interdepartmental group is developing and progressing agreed processes and approaches to ensure we have the highest standard of refuge accommodation, delivered in the most efficient way.

This has already resulted in a streamlined process for capital funding applications for new refuges.

Supports for applicant groups from the Housing Agency in relation to public procurement processes and direct engagement between Department of Housing Architectural Advisors and the Design Teams recruited by the applicant groups are also in place.

The group is now focusing on:

- reaching agreement on a design approach for future refuges;

- providing project management resources to local groups;

- providing supports to local service providers to facilitate the development of organisational policies and procedures, and

- enabling the appointment of key roles in these organisations.

This work will ensure that when organisations come forward with proposals for a refuge, the process with which they engage will be more straightforward and they will be assisted and supported throughout.

The outcome of this will be a faster timeframe and more consistent approach for the delivery of additional spaces.