Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
582. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a women’s refuge (details supplied) in Dublin 6 has reopened as a women’s refuge; if not, the reason therefore; the reason the refuge centre is no longer accepting donations of clothes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2378/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and provision of services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV), whether in the context of the family or otherwise.
The refuge to which the Deputy refers was closed in September 2017 following a Health and Safety audit, initiated by Tusla, which highlighted potential electrical issues. The health and safety issues identified during the audit are now resolved.
Tusla is in the process of contracting a specialist domestic violence organisation to manage the facility. It is expected that outreach services will be in place for service users in advance of accommodation services being made available. Tusla has advised me that the refuge will be fully operational by the end of Quarter 1, 2019.
In the interim, Tusla has worked in partnership with Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) to provide short-term accommodation to a cohort of homeless women who have experienced domestic violence. This arrangement will continue until the contract with a specialist domestic violence organisation is in place to manage the facility.
Tusla is grateful for the willingness of the local community to help service users with donations and has advised that the facility has adequate resources in place at present. Tusla is also cognisant that donations of unsolicited goods require significant resources, particularly the time of staff and available storage capacity. In order to ensure that donated goods can be put to the best possible use, Tusla has advised that local charity shops might benefit more from such donations at this time.
