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Domestic Violence Refuges Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020

Thursday, 3 December 2020

Ceisteanna (99)

Jim O'Callaghan

Ceist:

99. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he plans to publish a review of domestic violence accommodation provision. [40750/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice.

Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.

Tusla is currently undertaking a review of emergency accommodation nationwide. This will assess the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation. Substantial progress has been made on a number of processes which contribute to the review.

These include a literature review, consultations with stakeholders, geographical and census data analysis, consultation with service users and policy analysis. The literature review is now complete.

The review's findings and the recommendations of the Monitoring Committee of the Second National Strategy on DSGBV will inform Tusla's future decisions on priority areas for investment and development of services. Tusla has advised me that the report will be published next April.

It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I strongly support the work of Tusla and its funded service providers and I am committed to supporting the Agency in meeting the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.

I look forward to responding to Tusla's audit of refuge accommodation across the country and to ensuring that new refuges are appropriately designed and located.

While funding will be crucial to our success in tackling DSGBV, it is imperative that we have the right structures in place to allow the Government to respond as effectively as possible. Under the Programme for Government, we have committed to undertaking an audit of responsibility for DSGBV across Departments and State agencies.

The procurement process to secure the expertise to conduct this audit is under way, in conjunction with my colleague the Minister for Justice. We expect that audit to be completed without delay, and the Government will act on the basis of that audit.

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