I have been informed by the Courts Service that the numbers who sought the protection of the courts in the Dublin area by way of barring orders, protection orders and safety orders in the period August 1998 to July 1999, the latest year for which statistics are readily available, totalled 4,891. The corresponding figures for the periods August 1997 to July 1998 were 5,115 and August 1996 to July 1997, 5,562. The number of orders granted were 2,450, 2,313 and 2,775 respectively.
There has also been an increase in interim barring orders granted since 1996-97, with the figure rising from 152 in that year to 712 in 1997-98 and 610 in 1998-99. The changes in these figures are explained by the fact that this is a new order introduced under the Domestic Violence Act, 1996. The order can be granted on the making of an application for a barring order or between the time of the making of the application and its determination by the court. Also, if the court is of the view that the granting of a protection order would not be sufficient to protect the applicant or any dependent person prior to the hearing of the main court action, it can grant an interim barring order.
I understand from the figures that the majority of applications for orders were made by spouses or common law spouses. There were 4,170 in 1998-99 and 4,451 in 1997-98. The figures given also show that there has been an increase in the number of applications made by parents, who can apply under the Domestic Violence Act, 1996 for protection against domestic violence by their own child if the child is over 18. In 1997-98 there were 79 applications and in 1998-99 there were 102 applications. Figures are not available for 1996-97. I am providing the Deputy with a detailed statistical breakdown of the figures I have given.
As part of the Government's initiative to address the problem of violence against women it established in 1997 the national steering committee on violence against women. The committee, which is under the aegis of my Department, is developing a multi-agency and cohesive response to women experiencing violence. To raise awareness about the issue of violence the committee has undertaken two awareness raising campaigns. The initial campaign was aimed at generating a wider public debate on the issue of violence and at raising awareness about the work of the committee. The second campaign was directed at society generally and involved the production of an emblem, which was to be worn to show support for women victims.
The aim of the committee is to encourage women to come forward, report incidents of violence which include not only domestic violence incidents but also rape and sexual assault, and avail of the services in their area. The committee is also in the process of considering the establishment of a single crisis telephone referral service which will facilitate easier access to services. As part of this process a research project has been commissioned. The initial element of the work is nearing completion, that is, the production of a directory of services. The researchers will also examine the costs involved in the delivery of the referral service, likely levels of calls to the line and evaluate the impact on existing services. Regional committees, established in each of the eight health board areas, are working on the provision of services in their respective regions and developing local and regional responses for victims.
My Department is not the only Department involved in supporting victims of domestic violence. The other Departments involved are: the Department of Health and Children, which is responsible, through the health boards, for the provision of funding to the various service providers that work with victims; the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which, through the local authorities, provides accommodation for homeless persons including victims of family violence; the Department of Education and Science which is responsible for the issue in the schools and provides courses on related subjects; and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs which funds community development programmes and grant aids local groups dealing with the issue.