Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2022
47. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the expected completion date for the procurement process and opening date of the domestic violence refuge accommodation centre in County Laois. [51841/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra74. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice if she will outline the budget allocated for the provision of a domestic violence refuge accommodation centre in County Laois. [51840/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 74 together.
I'm informed by Tusla that a group involving local stakeholders, including the Laois Domestic Abuse Service, has been established to take forward plans to develop the proposed refuge and associated support services.
Planning is not yet sufficiently advanced to identify the specific amount of either capital or revenue funding required. Nor is planning sufficiently advanced to identify the specific timelines for completion of the refuge, but Tusla and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be working with local stakeholders to support and expedite the process.
As I'm sure the Deputy can appreciate, due to the variations in sites, resources available and specific local features, the costs for each of the planned refuge developments will be considered on a case by case basis, with decisions on funding to be supported into the future, by work being progressed nationally to develop principles for refuge design.
Tusla will continue to engage with stakeholders to support the refuge development process in Co. Laois.
In 2022, the Laois Domestic Abuse Service was allocated €281,440, with €79,000 additional funding to strengthen its capacity for the provision of supports to women and further development of services to children impacted by domestic abuse.
Additional resources such as project management support and other supports for capacity building will be made available to the Laois Domestic Abuse Service and other organisations taking forward refuge developments in the 12 priority locations, as outlined in the Third National Strategy.
