Skip to main content
Normal View

Domestic Violence Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 November 2020

Tuesday, 24 November 2020

Questions (626, 627)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

626. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to put in place a support service for male victims of domestic abuse in the greater Dublin area in which 1.5 million persons reside but which has no service. [38537/20]

View answer

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

627. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to remedy the disparity in funding for services for male victims which amounted to less than 2% of total funding in 2017 although males comprise at least one third of all victims; and if an organisation (details supplied) will be designated the national support service. [38538/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 626 and 627 together.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 for the care and protection of victims of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV).

In 2020 my Department provided €25.3m to Tusla for DSGBV support services. Additional funds of some €2m are being allocated during 2020 for once-off costs, particularly those arising from the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In 2021, a total of €30 million will be made available by DCEDIY to Tusla to fund DSGBV services. This includes a €2.7 million increase in core services, bringing core service provision to €28 million, with an additional €2 million of one-off contingency funding being made available to help services cope with the ongoing effects of COVID-19.

The commissioning of DSGBV services is an operational matter for Tusla. I have asked Tusla to respond to you directly with regard to commissioned services for male victims of domestic violence.

The response to DSGBV is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice which also provides funding for support services for victims of crime that can include supports for victims of DSGBV.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments regarding DSGBV, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies, which will inform future investments in this area.

Top
Share