Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for providing effective responses to victims of domestic violence and sexual violence. At all times, Tusla’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual violence are being met in the best way possible.
In 2015, Tusla provided over €19 million euro in funding for the provision of domestic and sexual violence services. This funding is allocated to specialist organisations responding to sexual and domestic violence and includes funding for 60 domestic and sexual violence services throughout the country comprising:
- Over €15m for 44 organisations providing domestic violence support services, including 20 emergency refuges.
- €4m for 16 rape crisis centres.
Tusla has advised that it currently has arrangements in place to provide child-friendly, safe and neutral places where children can spend time with the parent(s) they do not live with in order to allow them to develop a relationship with the parent at their own pace in their own way. Tusla supports further developments in local areas in this regard.
I would like to assure the Deputy that Tusla will continue to examine appropriate responses to the needs of children who witness or directly experience violence within the family setting.
