Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has responsibility for the provision of funding, co-ordination and support to 59 organisations nationally that deliver a range of services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, one of which is the organisation to which the Deputy refers.
I have not had any engagement with Tusla or the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to planned transfer of a vacant site from the HSE to the refuge referred to by the Deputy for the development of step down accommodation and a children's centre.
Tusla has advised me that it was informed by the HSE in January 2019 that it had made the decision to withdraw the offer of the site to the refuge concerned. The HSE offered the refuge in question an alternative site, which could be used as a day service facility for victims of domestic violence.
Tusla has informed me that while it was aware of the plans regarding the transfer of the site between the HSE and the refuge referred to by the Deputy, it had no direct involvement in the process. Tusla does not have a strategic interest in the site being acquired by the refuge as the site does not form part of any current Tusla commissioning plans for services to victims of domestic or sexual violence in the area.
