Written Answers. - Domestic Violence.
John Perry
Question:
129
Mr. Perry
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the steps that have been taken following the meeting between Amen, the support group for male victims of domestic violence, and the Minister of State at his Department; if his attention has been drawn to various surveys, studies and media articles which highlight the prevalence of male victims as being equal to that of female victims; the discussion he has to redress this issue in relation to domestic violence; the changes which will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8338/01]
I can inform the Deputy that responses to the issue of domestic violence falls within the remit of a number of Departments.
The Department of Health and Children is responsible for the provision of services to victims, including the provision of funding, through the relevant health boards, to the non-governmental organisations dealing with victims; the Department of the Environment and Local Government is responsible for the provision of crisis accommodation; the Department of Education and Science is responsible for educating children in relation to the issue in schools; the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs funds community development pro grammes and also grant aids local groups dealing with the issue.
My Department's responsibility relates to measures dealing with perpetrators, including the establishment of perpetrator programmes.
I am sure the Deputy will be aware that my colleague, Deputy Mary Wallace, Minister of State, was appointed by the Government to chair the national steering committee on violence against women. It was in this context that she met Amen to discuss issues in relation to male victims of domestic violence. At that meeting the issues raised by the Amen representatives related to matters which are the responsibility of other Ministers, as I have outlined above, or were matters for the courts, who are, in accordance with the terms of the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.
I am also aware that research has been commissioned, at the instigation of my colleague, Deputy Martin, Minister for Health and Children, by the North Eastern Health Board in relation to male victims of domestic violence so that a service response can be identified. I await the publication of the results of this research.
In relation to recent newspaper articles about the prevalence of male victims of domestic violence, I am conscious that victims can be both male and female. The Garda annual statistics show that, in recorded cases, 89% of the victims were female and 11% male. The issue of male victimisation is serious even though it appears to be less prevalent than female victimisation.
