Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1057. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice for an update with regard to her plans for funding domestic violence refuges; and the new refuges that will be established to cover current counties with no provision. [57116/23]
View answerCombatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a priority for me and my Department and this is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in Budget allocations.
As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2022 I published an ambitious €363 million, five-year, Zero Tolerance Strategy.
One of the overarching goals of the Strategy is ensuring that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one and Government has committed to working with the sector to double the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the strategy, bringing it to 280 by the end of 2026.
In terms of the location for these additional places, the Tusla review of accommodation services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence identified priority locations where between 50 and 60 new refuge places are needed. Further analysis undertaken identified 12 locations nationwide where the delivery of 98 family refuge spaces would have the most impact if prioritised.
In the initial phase of this work it is expected that 36 places will have been delivered in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan by the end of 2024. The developments in the other priority locations are currently mainly focused on establishing local stakeholders and lead organisations and on site selection.
The priority locations identified are:
• Sligo (8 family places)
• Cavan/Monaghan (8 family places)
• Cork city (12 family places – 6 new, 6 replacement)
• North Cork (5 family places)
• West Cork (5 family places)
• Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown (10 family places)
• Westmeath (8 family places – four new, four replacements)
• Portlaoise (8 family places)
• Balbriggan (10 family places)
• Longford (8 family places)
• Carlow (8 family places)
• Offaly (8 family places)
The Deputy will be aware of the recent establishment of Cuan, the new Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) Agency.
This new agency will work collaboratively with the NGO and DSGBV sector to ensure that the best possible services are in place to meet the needs of victims and survivors.
The tasks of the agency include:
• Coordinating and reporting on the delivery of Government strategies relating to DSGBV (including the current National Strategy)
• Supporting and overseeing the doubling of safe and accessible refuge accommodation, and ensuring the delivery of excellent services to victims of DSGBV (including helpline and other supports)
• Developing robust standards for funded DSGBV services in collaboration with the sector, and monitoring adherence to these standards by funded service providers
