Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
100. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number and amounts of capital grants for the provision of domestic violence and abuse refuges between 1 January 2016 and 1 November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40782/20]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice. Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.
The provision of capital funding for domestic violence refuges is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Capital development costs for new domestic violence refuges are supported through the Capital Assistance Scheme, which is overseen by the Department of Housing and is managed by local authorities.
Under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), capital funding of up to 100% of project costs may be advanced by local authorities to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to provide housing for specific categories of people in need.
Those seeking Capital funding through this scheme for domestic violence accommodation are advised to engage with their local authority and with Tusla, at the beginning stages of planning. In certain circumstances, the housing needs of victims of domestic violence can also be addressed by the provision of accommodation by local authorities from their own stock of housing.
I am informed that in 2019, 17 units of accommodation for victims of domestic violence were provided under the Capital Assistance Scheme.
In addition to capital costs, delivery of additional family units of accommodation would require significant strategic funding, planning and collaboration between Government Departments, local authorities and State agencies.
It is imperative that we have the right structures in place to allow the Government to respond as effectively as possible to all the issues associated with addressing DSGBV and supporting victims of these crimes.
Under the Programme for Government, we have committed to undertaking an audit of responsibility for DSGBV across Departments and State agencies to that we can ensure a more effective and holistic infrastructure is established to respond to DSGBV.
The procurement process to secure the expertise to conduct this audit is under way, in conjunction with my colleague Minister McEntee in the Department of Justice. We expect that audit to be completed quickly, and the Government will act on the basis of that audit.
