Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:40. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the provision of refuge spaces to underserved areas under the zero tolerance strategy. [17546/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 April 2024
Ceisteanna (40)
Freagraí scríofa
A central element of delivering on the Zero Tolerance Strategy is the establishment of a statutory domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) agency, and I was delighted to establish Cuan at the beginning of the year. Cuan has a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the strategy across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue, including the provision of accommodation.
The Zero Tolerance 2024 implementation plan commits to producing a strategic plan for the development of safe accommodation for people experiencing domestic violence, covering staying safe at home, emergency accommodation and pathways out of emergency accommodation.
One of the key actions of Zero Tolerance is doubling the number of refuge spaces available during the lifetime of the Strategy, bringing the total to 280. The 2024 plan commits to exploring models for the delivery of domestic violence refuge accommodation and identifying opportunities to accelerate delivery to meet this target.
The 2024 Implementation Plan sets out the following deliverables on refuge spaces by the end of 2024:
• Active planning and engagement to be underway for the delivery of 150 additional family refuge units;
• Delivery of 8 new family refuge units;
• Ensure that 25 additional family refuge units are under construction; and
• Commence the publication of quarterly reports on progress towards doubling the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the Strategy, with an accessible tracking mechanism.
The 2024 Implementation Plan also commits to increasing the number of Safe Homes by a further 35% in 2024.
Safe Homes are another form of emergency domestic violence accommodation and form an important part of the overall accommodation response. Generally suited to those at low to medium risk of serious harm, they are usually provided as a separate unit of accommodation, for example a flat or a house, at a community or local level.
The Cuan Domestic Violence Accommodation Development staff are working to support these deliverables by:
• Actively engaging with Local Authorities across various refuge development locations, spread across the country;
• Identifying suitable and appropriate sites for domestic violence refuge development; and
• Engaging with key stakeholders to explore partnership options for domestic violence refuge development.