Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2022
722. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the average cost of establishing one domestic violence refuge in Roscommon, including all associated costs such as staffing, resourcing, capital spend et cetera. [34070/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra723. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the average cost of funding one domestic violence refuge in Cork per year, including all associated costs such as staffing, resourcing, capital spend et cetera. [34071/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 722 and 723 together.
It is my intention that every person who needs a refuge space will have access to one.
As the Deputy may be aware, Tusla published a review of accommodation for victims of domestic violence in February 2022.
Implementation of findings from this review is being led by my Department and will be taken forward in the context of the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Addressing the range of needs for those who experience domestic violence, particularly for people with complex or additional needs, is identified as a recommendation from the domestic violence accommodation review, and relevant actions are included within the forthcoming national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
To date, funding the revenue cost of refuge services has been provided through Tusla. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Housing Authorities have been key stakeholders around capital funding of new refuge developments.
In 2022 Tusla has allocated a total of €164,354.40 to Roscommon Safe Link for the provision of services to those fleeing domestic violence.
Also in 2022, Tusla has allocated a total of €1,538,319.46 to the Domestic Violence Service providers in Cork for service provision to those fleeing domestic violence. This includes funding to Cuanlee Refuge of €510,999.
There are many factors which influence the average cost of funding one domestic violence refuge, including location and age of a building, maintenance, number of units, type of units, on site services for clients, security, number, and range of staff needed. This, along with the role of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Housing Authorities in capital resources, means there can be substantial variation in the average costs of refuge provision.
Tusla will work with the interdepartmental group established under the aegis of the Minister for Justice to consider implementation of findings from the domestic violence accommodation review.
Tusla acknowledges the need to increase the provision of refuges and that key to this will be ensuring organisations can access funding.
