Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

992. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking in response to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Report on an Examination of the Present Approach to Sanctions for Possession of Certain Amounts of Drugs for Personal Use's recommendation that "steps are taken to introduce a regulatory model for certain drugs". [17507/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025". This strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland. 

The implementation of the strategy is led by the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy. However, the strategy includes actions for all stakeholders, including my Department and An Garda Síochána.  

The strategy recognises the need for a balanced health-led approach - reducing demand, while also reducing access to illegal drugs - and is aimed at reducing the number of people criminalised for the possession of drugs for personal use. While this strategy supports vulnerable people who use drugs, it is also matched with strengthened enforcement measures across Government to tackle the supply of illegal drugs.

The Misuse of Drugs Acts and associated Regulations are the main laws regulating illicit substances, including controls relating to: cultivation, licensing, possession, administration, supply, record-keeping, prescription-writing, destruction and safe custody. As Minister for Justice I am not responsible for this legislation. 

I can inform the Deputy that officials in my Department engage with all stakeholders under the structures of the drugs strategy, namely the National Oversight Committee, chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, the Standing Sub-Committee, and associated working groups.

I welcome the recent Government agreement to establish a Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use to consider the legislative, policy and operational changes the State could make to significantly reduce the harmful impacts of illicit drugs on individuals, families, communities and wider society and officials from my Department have been engaging with the secretariat to the Committee and will continue to do so.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

993. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking in response to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice Report on Women's Shelters and Domestic Abuse Refuges' recommendation that "the infrastructure of refuges in Ireland be evaluated and that funding be provided to upgrade refuges in accordance with the standards of the Istanbul Convention. It should be ensured that newly built refuges are all built to comply with these standards". [17508/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In June of last year the Government launched Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

In line with the priority which we are 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 over 280. This will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces.

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. That can be viewed here: TUSLA_-_Domestic_Violence_Acc_Provision_Single_Page.pdf.

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, including the establishment of a new DSGBV 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.

An interdepartmental group (IDG) is already developing and progressing agreed processes and approaches to ensure we have the highest standard of refuge accommodation, delivered in the most efficient way.

The delivery of additional safe homes is also a key part of the whole-of-Government response and it is expected that the number of safe homes will be increased by 15 this year.

As the Deputy will also be aware, a new statutory Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence agency, under the aegis of the Department of Justice, is being established. I published the General Scheme of the bill in March this year and the new Agency will be up and running by January 2024.  The new Agency will ensure a permanent and dedicated focus on implementation and supports for Government and the sector in our work to combat DSGBV and support victims of these horrific crimes.

The new agency will work collaboratively with the NGO and DSGBV services sector to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors. It will ensure a robust set of national service standards and governance arrangements are in place.

The Agency will also have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Third National Strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue. A dedicated research function in the new agency will support evidence-based policy and decision-making to best meet the challenges of tackling, preventing and reducing the incidence of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.