As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is establishing a new statutory agency with a dedicated focus on domestic sexual and gender-based violence, which will be up and running in January 2024.
The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue.
Tusla currently holds the remit for funding frontline services that provide support and protection to victims / survivors of DSGBV. In that regard, Tusla commissions and supports the provision of services from 60 specialist services around the country; including 44 services providing support to victims of domestic violence, 21 of which provide safe accommodation in refuges.
The Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence commits to the fastest ever expansion refuge space numbers. Implementation of the strategy will see the number of refuge spaces double over the lifetime of the plan, (bringing it to 280 places across the five years of the Strategy) and alongside this will introduce the processes, structures and supports to deliver the higher Istanbul target.
On foot of a review of accommodation for victims of domestic violence in published in 2022, twelve immediate priority locations have been identified for development of new refuges, along with the redevelopment of refuges in Wexford, Navan and Dundalk.
An interdepartmental steering committee, which includes representatives from the Department of Justice, the Department of Children and Tusla, is supporting accelerated development of refuges around the country, to ensure that the highest standard of refuge accommodation, can be delivered in the most efficient way, in collaboration with key stakeholders.
This has already resulted in access to technical supports for applicant groups from the Housing Agency and a high level of engagement between key stakeholders to address emerging issues.
Dedicated funding has been made available for 2023, for measures such as project management support and capacity building, so that refuge developments are supported from the earliest stages.
Analysis undertaken by Tusla as part of the review of domestic violence accommodation provision, indicated that revenue costs for operation of high support refuges were in the region of €100,000 per unit at the time of the review.
This figure is based on the model of a 24 day, 7 day week, fully staffed service with direct support for women and dedicated support for children. Other operational costs such as management, utilities, cleaning, maintenance are also included. A ‘unit’ accommodates an individual woman or an individual woman and her children.
With recognised cost of living increases more recently, it is acknowledged that these ‘average’ costs have increased since the accommodation review. Additional funding of 6% across the board was provided in 2023 to address costs pressures for all DSGBV services, including refuges, as part of the €7m additional funding for the DSGBV services’ sector through the Department of Justice.
This means the average cost per unit as described above is €106,000 or €1,060,000 per ten unit refuge. Again it is important to stress this cost relates to service provision, not building or acquisition costs, or costs associated with capital or environmental works.
Specific costs can vary from service to service and depending on geographical location. Tusla is engaged with organisations leading refuge developments to develop and resource business cases to support the operation of refuges as they come on stream and future funding requirements will be considered as part of the estimates process for 2024 and beyond.
The Deputy will be aware that the capital costs of provision of new refuge units are a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Housing Authorities.
