Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
489. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider increasing funding towards organisations dedicated to tackling violence against women; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3161/22]
View answerI can assure the Deputy this Government is committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms, and to ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities.
The prioritisation of this important work is evident in the increased budget allocations that have been secured this year in order to address such heinous and unacceptable behaviour.
My Department provides funding to support the work of An Garda Síochána to combat such violence. It also provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system, which of course includes victims of domestic and sexual crime.
Under Budget 2022, a total of €13m was allocated to my Department for this work. This represents an increased allocation of €5.35m on last year which will enable us to roll out specific awareness raising and training programmes to combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence. It will also allow us to provide additional supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes and it will support a number of front line activities.
As part of this, an additional €1.1m will be used to put in place a legal advice and legal aid service in court for victims of sexual violence and €1 million is being provided to the Garda vote to refurbish and upgrade the Divisional Protective Service Units. This will allow us to better support and protect vulnerable victims.
In 2021, Tusla allocated €28m in core funding for DSGBV services plus €2m in contingency funding to address challenges arising from Covid-19. Funding for DSGBV has increased from €23.8m in 2018 to €30m in 2022. Further funding and resources will be allocated to address the recommendations arising from Tusla’s Accommodation Review.
As the Deputy may be aware, I am currently leading work on a new whole of government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. This new plan will have a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring victims are better supported. It will set an overall goal of zero tolerance in our society for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
The Strategy has been developed in partnership with the sector to ensure it is targeted, comprehensive and effective in achieving all of the goals set out. The new Strategy will be structured around the four pillars or goals of the Istanbul Convention which are
- Prevention
- Protection
- Prosecution
- Co-ordinated Policies
Under each of these high level objectives there will be a number of specific aims listed but the Strategy and aims will be high level in tone and content.
A detailed action plan setting out how each of these aims will be achieved, who is responsible for them and the timeframe for delivery is currently being drafted with the sector so that it is targeted, ambitious and deliverable.
In the coming weeks, I will be inviting feedback through a focused consultation process on the final draft to ensure the Strategy reflects the areas that people feel need the most attention.
I expect to bring the finalised strategy to Government in March, and I will oversee the implementation of the strategy.
Last year, on foot of the audit, it was agreed that the Department of Justice will continue to have lead policy responsibility for DSGBV. My Department will also assume responsibility for services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, in addition to policy responsibility.
A detailed plan for how this will work is in preparation and will be brought to Government for decision.
