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Domestic Violence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Questions (100)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

100. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice the action she is taking to combat domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16191/22]

View answer

Written answers

I would like to assure the Deputy that I am committed to tackling domestic violence in all its forms.

The prioritisation of this hugely important work is evident in the policy and legislative developments implemented by this Government and those that are currently being progressed.

Additionally, increased budget allocations have been secured this year to further our work to tackle domestic violence and to better support victims of this heinous and unacceptable behaviour.

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, which has been developed in partnership with the sector to ensure it is targeted, comprehensive, 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 violence.

Last month I briefed those working in the sector on the progress of the strategy as part of that ongoing consultation, and a wider public consultation run by my Department recently concluded.

I will finalise the strategy for submission to government in light of submissions received in this final consultative phase.

The strategy and aims will be high level in tone and content. I am also working on finalising an accompanying implementation plan to set out how each of these aims will be achieved, which Departments and agencies are responsible for them and the timeframe for delivery, so that it is targeted, ambitious and deliverable.

I intend to bring both the finalised strategy and the implementation plan to Government in the coming weeks.

The Deputy may be aware that last year Minister O’Gorman and I commissioned an independent audit of how responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender based violence is segmented across Government.

On foot of this, it has been agreed that my Department will assume responsibility for services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence, in addition to policy responsibility and overall cross-Government coordination of implementation.

A detailed plan setting out how this will work is in preparation and as part of that, I will bring proposals to Government with a view to establishing in law a national agency tasked with responsibility for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

The agency, once established, will be responsible for overseeing all of the actions set out in the Third National Strategy and for delivering domestic violence services.

It will bring together the expertise that already exists within TUSLA and in the Department of Justice and will report to me as Minister for Justice.

The agency will work closely with relevant Departments and Agencies and with the sector to ensure the services it provides are meeting the needs of victims of DSGBV and of the sector that support them.

It is anticipated that the new Agency will be up and running within 18 to 24 months.

Bringing the responsibility for policy and service delivery together under one Ministry, establishing the Agency in law, and introducing oversight from the Department of the Taoiseach recognises the need to have a dedicated and expert focused approach to this important work.

Providing safe accommodation for victims is an important strand of our work and in February, Minister O’Gorman and I published the review by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, of accommodation for victims of domestic violence

The review highlights gaps in geographical coverage and inadequate provision of safe accommodation, including refuges, to meet population needs. It recommended an approach to address this with immediate, medium and long term actions required and it provides a list of priority areas where additional services would address the most immediate need.

I fully acknowledge the need to dramatically increase the provision of refuge spaces across the country and it is my intention to bring us to a situation where there is a refuge space for everyone who needs one

I have established a high level Inter-Departmental Group to review the current system for the provision of refuge spaces and to identify changes that can be made to the system to deliver additional spaces in the shortest timeframe possible.

In addition to the locations identified by Tusla, the Group will be engaging with local authorities, Government Departments and State agencies to look at sourcing refuge provision in a number of other areas.

My intention is that the timelines for delivery of these places, as well as further targets for nationwide delivery of refuge accommodation, will be outlined in the third national strategy with further detail contained in the accompanying action plan.

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