Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
134. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the locations in counties Cavan and Monaghan that victims of domestic violence can seek refuge accommodation during the Covid-19 pandemic in the absence of domestic refuge spaces. [56204/21]
View answerI appreciate the Deputy's concern in relation to this issue and I am aware that she has engaged with my Department on this matter on numerous occasions.
I am informed by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, that supports for victims of Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) in counties Cavan and Monaghan are available through the services of Tearmann, which is based in Monaghan and funded by Tusla. Tearmann also provides outreach services in several locations in both counties. While there is no purpose-built refuge facility in these counties at present, women can avail of emergency domestic violence accommodation in Counties Louth and Meath, where there are three refuges supported by Tusla. I am advised by Tusla that it has had some engagement with various local stakeholders about potential future refuge developments in these counties.
I prioritised resources for Tusla in the Budget for 2021, so that it is meeting the needs of victims of DSGBV. This is particularly important in the context of COVID-19. Tusla designated services for victims of DSGBV as one of the Agency's top three priority service areas during the pandemic.
My Department is providing Tusla with core funding of €30 million this year to fund DSGBV services. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. In Budget 2022, Tusla has been allocated an additional €41 million over the 2021 allocation. I have directed Tusla to use part of these additional resources to maintain supports for DSGBV services and address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review of refuge provision.
