Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
102. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports offered to males by Tusla who are survivors of domestic violence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40767/20]
View answerThe response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE). Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.
Tusla currently allocates funding to two organisations that provide dedicated services for male victims of domestic abuse. The Men’s Development Network and Men’s Aid Ireland both offer a range of services to support male victims. In 2020, core funding for Men’s Aid Ireland was €239,900, and funding for the Men’s Development Network was €166,260.
The Men’s Development Network provide a National Male Advice Line, providing practical advice, information and emotional support to male victims of domestic abuse. The service also delivers a Counselling Service to male victims and a Family Intervention Programme. The organisation works at a national level to support male victims of domestic abuse.
Tusla has supported the organisation in providing this helpline since 2019. I understand that the Department of Justice provided extra funding of up to €39,340 at the start of COVID-19 to extend the operating hours for the Male Advice Line and secure extra telephone support for the perpetrator programme, and to deliver a promotional campaign.
Men’s Aid Ireland is a service supporting men and their families experiencing domestic violence. The organisation provides a helpline, clinics offering advice about legal protection, advocacy and practical supports, counselling, and court accompaniment services at the Family Courts in Dublin.
The helpline is available to men nationwide. Men’s Aid Ireland also provides Outreach Clinics in Counties Monaghan, Cavan, Louth and Meath, where it provides one-to-one in-person supports.
Refuges in Ireland are high support services that provide safe and short-term accommodation for women and children at high risk of harm from domestic violence. This service model is in line with many other countries, where victims of domestic violence have been identified to be predominantly women at risk of violence from men.
Tusla acknowledges that there are undoubtedly some men that would benefit from access to refuge-type accommodation. However, Tusla does not have information that would indicate a significant level of need amongst men for the current model of refuge.
Tusla is currently undertaking a review of emergency accommodation nationwide. The review will provide insight into current distribution of services and unmet needs.
Tusla will continue to engage with key stakeholders, and the experiences of service providers that work with men, to determine the level of need and models of safe accommodation that may address the needs of male victims of DSGBV.
All organisations working with victims of domestic violence will seek to support someone at risk, regardless of gender or access to refuge. Tusla has funded access to safe accommodation outside of a refuge setting during COVID-19, where support is required.
I have committed to meeting with Men's Aid to discuss their work, and my office is arranging that meeting for early 2021.
