Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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589. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are currently any plans to fund a new domestic violence refuge in the area of County Laois to help deal with the significant pressures on the current services provided in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59384/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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.

Portlaoise is one of the priority areas identified.

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.

I'm informed by Tusla that a group involving local stakeholders, including the Laois Domestic Abuse Service, has been established to take forward plans to develop the proposed refuge and associated support services.

Planning is not yet sufficiently advanced to identify the specific amount of either capital or revenue funding required. Nor is planning sufficiently advanced to identify the specific timelines for completion of the refuge, but Tusla and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be working with local stakeholders to support and expedite the process.

As I'm sure the Deputy can appreciate, due to the variations in sites, resources available and specific local features, the costs for each of the planned refuge developments will be considered on a case by case basis, with decisions on funding to be supported into the future, by work being progressed nationally to develop principles for refuge design.

Tusla will continue to engage with stakeholders to support the refuge development process in Co. Laois.

In 2022, the Laois Domestic Abuse Service was allocated €281,440, with €79,000 additional funding to strengthen its capacity for the provision of supports to women and further development of services to children impacted by domestic abuse.

Minister McEntee secured additional funding of €9m in budget 2023 to address the response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, of which €6.8m will be allocated through Tusla to maintain and develop front-line services for victims. Dedicated funding is available in 2023, for measures such as project management support and capacity building, so that refuge developments are supported from the earliest stages.

Laois Domestic Abuse Service and groups taking forward refuge developments in the twelve priority locations will be able to access these resources.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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590. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there are currently any plans to fund a new domestic violence refuge in the area of County Offaly to help deal with the significant pressures on the current services provided in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59385/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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.

Offaly is among the areas identified.

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.

Minister McEntee secured additional funding of €9m in budget 2023 to address the response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, of which €6.8m will be allocated through Tusla to maintain and develop front-line services for victims. Funding for measures to bring domestic violence refuges and associated support services into operation at the earliest possible date has been identified as a priority within these resources.

There is also some funding available to look at additional safe accommodation solutions for victims, such as Safe Home units in the community. Tusla has informed me that plans are being advanced to bring units of Safe Home into operation in Co. Offaly in the coming months.

Early discussions on refuge development have been had with the Offaly Domestic Abuse Service and Tusla will stay engaged with stakeholders in Co. Offaly about progressing refuge plans in a timely, sustainable way.

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.

Site work is set to begin in Q4 on the new refuge in Co. Wexford, while developments in Navan and Dundalk are continuing to make progress at design and planning stages. Developments in the other priority locations are mainly focused on establishing local stakeholders and lead organisations and on site selection.