Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1062. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice to clarify what role, if any, the new Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency will have in the allocation of capital spend for the construction of refuges; and how the agency will interact with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the matter. [57189/23]
View answerPrior to the establishment of Cuan, the new Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency, an Interdepartmental Steering Committee was established to manage and oversee progress on the delivery of additional refuge units.
This Committee was chaired by the Department of Justice, with representation from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Tusla and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Inclusion and Youth.
This Committee has worked with domestic violence support groups in the priority locations to support their advancement of new refuge developments with funding support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
In 2023 the Committee also agreed a design approach for the development of future refuges and provided project management resources to local groups. Since establishment on the 1st of January, Cuan has taken the Chair of this Committee.
Through this Committee, Cuan and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will continue to assist the development of local structures operating in the priority areas identified in the Third National Strategy, and will support their advancement of the new refuges with capital funding support continuing to be provided via the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
