Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2023
160. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 5 October 2023, if the over 30 staff members that are envisaged to form part of the agency will be drawn from existing staff from other Departments or Government agencies; if not, if they will be new hires in addition to existing Departmental or agency staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44392/23]
View answerTackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms and providing fully for the needs of victims is a priority for me and Government. It will need substantial, dedicated and permanent resourcing and that is a key reason for setting up the new statutory based DSGBV Agency.
I can assure the Deputy that the agency will be given the resources it needs to fulfil its mandate and I am delighted to have secured an additional €12m in funding for combatting DSGBV under Budget 2024, which represents a record 25% increase. It means that agency will have a core budget of €43m next year which will greatly assist the agency in meeting the acute needs for services throughout the country, and will boost the momentum in implementing the ambitious goals set out in the zero tolerance national strategy.
It is envisaged that the Agency, headed by a CEO, will have over 30 staff members. Staff will be a mix of new recruits, and existing civil and public servants from the Department of Justice or other Government Departments and Tusla.
As the Deputy may know, Tusla ran a number of dedicated recruitment campaigns earlier this year for DSGBV roles that will transfer to the Agency once established, and the successful candidates are now in place.
A number of key positions will be advertised in the coming months through an open recruitment process and the CEO position was advertised widely by the Public Appointments Service on 22 September.
