Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1558. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Justice her plans to introduce multi-annual funding for the domestic violence sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40373/22]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for raising this issue and to assure her that protecting and supporting victims of domestic violence is a key priority for me as Minister for Justice. As I know the Deputy is aware, I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to Combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV). The goal of our third national strategy is clear: zero tolerance in Irish society for any form of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it. Under the Strategy the intention is to explore the potential for the introduction of standardised multi-annual funding structures, processes and service agreements that consider the full economic costs of DSGBV service delivery. In this regard, my Department currently funds a number of NGOs that provide supports for victims of crime planned on a multi-annual basis.
