To ask the Minister for Communities what consideration his Department has given to the need for a women’s refuge provision within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area.

This issue is an operational matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. I have sought the requested information from the Chief Executive, who has advised me as follows:

‘The Supporting People (SP) programme which is administered by the Housing Executive on behalf of the Department for Communities, provides grant funding towards the provision of housing related support services which help vulnerable people living independently in the community. This provision includes refuges for women affected by domestic violence.

With regard to refuge accommodation, there is currently no SP funded refuge located directly within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area, however refuge provision is available in nearby areas. This includes facilities in Newry (delivered by Women’s Aid Armagh Down), Lisburn (delivered by Belfast and Lisburn Women’s Aid), and Cookstown (delivered by Causeway & Mid Ulster Women’s Aid). Access is determined by risk and need and is not restricted by council boundaries.

SP fund Women's Aid Armagh Down to deliver a Floating Support service, which covers the entire ABC Council area, providing community-based support to women, and women with children, who are experiencing or who are at risk of domestic abuse.

At a strategic level, the SP Strategic Plan and COVID Recovery Plan 2022–2025 recognises the importance of domestic violence provision and includes specific actions aimed at service development. While this commitment is reflected in the strategy, it should be noted that the expansion of provision is contingent on the availability of additional funding. Proposals for new or extended services funded under the SP Programme are also required to progress through the established commissioning structures.

Addressing domestic violence provision remains a priority within the SP Programme, and we continue to work closely with partners to ensure available resources are targeted where they are most needed’.

For any future queries relating to operational matters, you may wish to contact the NIHE directly. Making direct contact with the ALB will ensure that you receive the information in the shortest possible timeframe and make best use of public resources.