Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:280. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of providing an additional refuge place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44021/19]
View answerThursday, 24 October 2019
Questions (280, 281, 282)
Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:281. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of providing an additional 327 refuge places in line with the recommendations of the Council of Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44022/19]
View answerFiona O'Loughlin
Question:282. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of providing ten additional refuge places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44023/19]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 to 282, inclusive, together.
Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, the provision of services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is a statutory responsibility of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
Tusla currently provides financial support for the provision of 155 family units of domestic violence accommodation:
- 145 family units of accommodation are provided in emergency refuge accommodation,
- 10 family units of accommodation are provided in emergency non-refuge accommodation
A family unit equates to one refuge place. A family unit can accommodate one adult and up to three children.
The approximate non-capital cost of providing one refuge place in an emergency domestic violence refuge is €100,000 per annum. Based on this figure, the cost of providing an additional 10 refuge places would be €1 million. The cost of providing an additional 327 refuge places would be €32.7 million.
It is important to note that, while Tusla is responsible for the provision of services and supports to victims of domestic violence, the provision of capital funding for domestic violence refuges is a matter for the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. As capital costs for the development of refuges is not the responsibility of Tusla, or my Department, they are not included in the costings above.
Delivery of an additional 327 refuge places would require significant strategic planning and collaboration between Government Departments and State agencies.