Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the plans for a women’s refuge in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [30190/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and am aware she has engaged with my office on this issue on many occasions.

I know the Deputy is deeply committed to establishing an emergency domestic violence refuge in the Cavan-Monaghan area. Some supports for victims are available through the services of Tearmann including outreach services in Counties Cavan and Monaghan. However, women seeking emergency domestic violence accommodation will typically seek refuge in Counties Louth and Meath, where there are three refuges supported by Tusla.

The Deputy will be aware that Tusla is currently finalising a review of emergency accommodation nationwide, which assesses the current and requisite distribution of safe emergency accommodation. The review has examined the current level of refuge provision, evidence of demand for services and unmet need, and analysis of proximity to refuge by local communities.

It presents recommendations on future configuration of accommodation and services that may be required to meet holistically the needs of victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence. I understand that Tusla has also had some ongoing engagement with various local stakeholders about refuge developments, including a recent meeting in May with a local group exploring development of domestic violence refuge.

As capital funding for domestic violence refuges is provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the development of future refuge requires the strong engagement of both Departments. I have spoken to Minister O'Brien on this issue and we are committed to engaging further on this matter.

I am also aware that as a signatory of the Istanbul Convention, we have made commitments in law to improve services to victims in this area. We have some ground to make up in this respect. I am committed to doing all that I can, as Minister with responsibility for Tusla and equality matters, to bring this about.

The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue, with policy coordinated by the Department of Justice. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.

The Programme for Government also sets out a number of commitments in this area, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies, and a Third National Strategy on DSGBV, led by the Department of Justice. The Minister for Justice and I intend to bring an Information Memo to Government next week, providing an update on progress across these strategic actions.

I can assure the Deputy that the findings of Tusla's Accommodation Review will inform actions to address shortfalls in emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence in the Third National Strategy on DSGBV. I would intend that it would be published in the near future.

It is of the utmost importance that the needs of those who experience domestic violence are met in the most appropriate way possible. I am committed to ensuring future service provision is evidence based and designed to meet the needs of individuals who experience domestic violence.