Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 January 2023
289. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice when he will establish a network of family contact centres to enable supervised meetings or handovers of children between parents who are no longer together or where domestic abuse has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2558/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth undertook a scoping exercise to examine the recommendations contained in a report of a pilot Child Contact Centre. I further understand that the Barnardos/One Family Pilot Report recommended an integrated response by the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth in that regard.
That Department is best placed to indicate the current position in relation to this piece of work. I can assure the Deputy that my Department continues to engage with all Departments, including the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth on all issues in relation to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including those that affect children in particular.
