Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
291. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the capital grants for the provision of domestic violence and abuse refuges between 1 January 2016 and 1 January 2020 as a percentage of the annual budget on domestic violence and abuse services of Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41052/20]
View answerUnder 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.
In 2020, I provided €25.3m to Tusla in core funding for DSGBV services. This supports some 60 organisations around the country. I am also providing additional resources to Tusla to support these services to cope with the complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. €2m will issue to DSGBV services for once-off additional costs by the end of the year. I have recently announced further increases in this core funding for services and a continuation of COVID-related supports in 2021.
None of the funding from my Department to Tusla from 2016 to 2020 involved capital grants for the provision of refuges to support victims.
The provision of capital funding for domestic violence refuges is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am informed that capital development costs for new domestic violence refuges are supported through the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), which is overseen by the Department of Housing and is managed by local authorities. Those seeking Capital funding for domestic violence accommodation through the CAS are advised to engage with their local authority and with Tusla, at the beginning stages of planning.
I have engaged with the office of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who is happy to respond to the Deputy with more detail on this matter, should a Parliamentary Question be addressed to his Department on this matter.
