The national steering committee on violence against women, NSC, was established following the report of the task force on violence again women in 1997. Its purpose is to provide a multidisciplinary, multi-agency and cohesive response to the problem of violence against women and it is chaired by the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Dea.
Funding is provided by the Department of Health and Children to the health boards for the provision of services to women victims of domestic violence. Additional funding has been made available each year since the establishment of the NSC so that now over €12 million is provided annually to the health boards.