Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
780. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that of the six family units in the one domestic violence emergency refuge in Cork city and county only two can operate due to social distancing; and the steps he is taking to provide additional emergency refugee spaces. [13516/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is providing Tusla with €25.3m this year for some 60 organisations that deliver services for these victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence . This includes funding and coordinated supports for 21 services that provide emergency refuge and non-refuge accommodation to victims of domestic violence.
Tusla is aware of reduced capacity within some refuges, due to requirements to enforce social distancing or self-isolation measures, particularly where communal facilities may exist. To date, Tusla has provided additional funding of approximately €500,000 across DSGBV services since the commencement of the COVID-19 crisis in Ireland. To mitigate the impact of social distancing and isolation measures, an additional 49 refuge and non-refuge accommodation units for service users have been secured throughout the country.
As facilities, accommodation and arrangements are specific to each service, Tusla is working with individual organisations to address any challenges arising in maintaining essential service provision. I have requested Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy with regard to the provision of emergency refuge accommodation in the specific refuge referenced, and more generally in the Cork area.
