Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
74. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects to publish the two reports his Department has commissioned into domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36207/21]
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 recognises the need for additional refuge spaces and has committed to an action plan on this issue. Tusla is due to provide its finalised Strategic Review of Emergency Domestic Violence Accommodation to my Department shortly. It will examine the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities. The Review will also present recommendations on future configuration of accommodation and services that may be required to holistically meet the needs of victims of DSGBV.
Following the finalisation of the review, I look forward to engaging with Tusla, the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Housing, and other relevant parties on its recommendations and future outcomes. I am not in a position to advise on a publication date before these initial engagements. It remains my priority to ensure that the evolving needs of service users are met, and that the recommendations of the review inform strategic actions in the Third National Strategy on DSGBV.
With regard to a second report that the Deputy has not referred to by name, I surmise that the Deputy is referring to an audit report that was commissioned by the Department of Justice, with regard to the segmentation of responsibility for DSGBV matters across Government bodies. The Programme for Government provided for this audit. My Department and Tusla assisted the Department of Justice in the tendering process for the audit. I understand the Minister for Justice will provide information shortly to relevant stakeholders about the publication of the report of the audit. The Minister for Justice and I will be jointly providing an update to Government on a number of DSGBV matters covered by the Programme for Government.
