Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2021
446. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will prioritise the opening of a refuge in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin for persons who are at risk of homelessness due to domestic abuse given that there is currently no provision in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28167/21]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue with overall policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.
The Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments regarding DSGBV, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies. Tusla is also undertaking a strategic review of emergency accommodation nationwide. This will assess the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation. The review is in its final stages and will be finalised in the coming weeks. The review's findings and the recommendations of the Monitoring Committee of the Second National Strategy on DSGBV will inform the Government, and Tusla's future decisions on priority areas for investment and development of services, including areas that may lack an existing service infrastructure and that may require future refuge development.
Capital funding for approved housing bodies, including services that provide refuge accommodation, is currently provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am aware of the ongoing need for additional refuge accommodation, particularly in areas that may be under resourced at present, and have received representations from individuals in several areas of the country on this issue. Minister O'Brien and I have engaged, and continue to engage, on this issue and will be further informed by the outcome of the Tusla accommodation review, in advance of any decisions that may be made.
It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I strongly support the work of Tusla and its funded service providers and I am committed to supporting the Agency in meeting the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.
