Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2014
121. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding rape crisis centres; the funding by location for each since 2012; his plans to expand support services to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45682/14]
View answerResponsibility for the funding of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services transferred from the HSE to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, upon its establishment on 1 January, 2014.
I am advised that in 2013, the HSE spent over €17 million on the provision of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services. In 2014, the Child and Family Agency will also spend in excess of €17 million on the provision of these services. This includes the funding of some 60 services throughout the country:
- €10m for 20 Crisis Refuges and support services
- Over €4 million for 16 Rape Crisis Centres
- Almost €3.5 million for 24 Domestic Violence Support Services.
The Agency has concluded a review of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services and a consolidated national budget is in place for these services. A roadmap for the future delivery of services has been approved by the Board of the Agency. The Agency has continued to engage with funded organisations during the review period and representatives of all those involved in the delivery of services were invited to consultations throughout the review process.
A structure for the national oversight of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Services is currently being put in place, with dedicated roles to support the delivery of these services. This approach will facilitate the provision of effective, high quality services with more equitable availability of services across different geographical areas and different population groups.
Sexual violence services will be developed as a national specialist service in order to achieve greater co-ordination of responses to both adult and child victims of sexual violence across all relevant services. The ultimate goal is to enable better experiences and outcomes for those who have experienced sexual violence and the important role of Rape Crisis/Sexual Violence services in this respect is recognised.
As part of the Child and Family Agency performance framework, the Agency is committed to implementing a commissioning approach to funding all external service providers, including sexual violence services.
The Agency's budgetary arrangements are currently being finalised. The Agency will liaise with funded sexual violence services regarding services required and funding arrangements for 2015 once its budget has been signed off. Frontline sexual violence services will be prioritised within available resources.
With regard to the additional information requested by the Deputy, on funding of Rape Crisis Centres by location, I have asked Tusla to provide this data, which will be forwarded to the Deputy upon receipt.
