Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Questions (1413)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1413. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the number of applications to courts for orders under domestic violence legislation, by county, in 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [43054/22]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I am committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms, and to ensuring that people, particularly women and vulnerable people, feel safe and are safe in our communities. 

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 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.

As the Deputy will be aware, An Garda Síochána play a vital role in how we, as a State, work together to combat domestic violence and support victims.

All Gardaí are trained as first responders so they are equipped to deal with victims, including victims of domestic violence. 

It is important to note also that An Garda Síochána has now established a Divisional Protective Services Unit (DPSU) in every Garda division across the country. This ensures that vulnerable victims of crimes, such as domestic abuse and sexual violence, presenting to Gardaí are met with specially trained Gardaí who can provide a consistently high standard of specialist, sensitive, professional and expert assistance.

A search of the PULSE database was conducted by An Garda Síochána on the 29th August 2022 for Domestic Violence Act Orders which were issued during the period 01/01/2021 – 28/08/2022.

The number of Domestic Violence Act Orders is shown below by year and division in the table below.

Division	2021	2022*	Grand Total
Cavan/Monaghan	313	212	525
Clare	279	195	474
Cork City	572	385	957
Cork North	390	170	560
Cork West	145	110	255
D.M.R. Eastern	333	226	559
D.M.R. North Central	340	217	557
D.M.R. Northern	1177	771	1948
D.M.R. South Central	237	179	416
D.M.R. Southern	869	588	1457
D.M.R. Western	1320	839	2159
Donegal	203	152	355
Galway	497	378	875
Kerry	216	155	371
Kildare	371	273	644
Kilkenny/Carlow	328	215	543
Laois/Offaly	428	269	697
Limerick	425	386	811
Louth	390	259	649
Mayo	137	97	234
Meath	549	296	845
Roscommon/Longford	298	166	464
Sligo/Leitrim	171	98	269
Tipperary	310	248	558
Waterford	311	215	526
Westmeath	231	174	405
Wexford	417	280	697
Wicklow	442	226	668
Grand Total	11699	7779	19478

*Up to 28/08/2022

I am informed that data above is based upon operational data from the PULSE system as was available at 01:00 on 29/08/2022 and is liable to change.