Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
76. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice the actions currently being undertaken by her Department to combat sexual and gender-based violence; the status of the provision of refuges in counties currently without one; the status of the work being undertaken on the new agency, particularly in regard to giving the new agency more scope to develop policy in this areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54672/23]
View answerCombating all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) is a priority for me and my Department and this is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in Budget allocations.
As the Deputy will be aware, in June of last year, I published an ambitious €363 million, five-year, Zero Tolerance Strategy.
Under the current implementation plan for the Strategy there are 144 actions assigned to various Departments, the majority of which have progressed, or are progressing, in line with the specified timeframes, for example;
• The legislation to establish the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency passed successfully through the Houses of the Oireachtas, and was signed into law by President Higgins on 28 November 2023.
• In November, I commenced the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 to improve the supervision of sex offenders post release.
• In April, the Sexual Violence Survey 2022 which was commissioned by my Department was published by the CSO to provide high quality national prevalence data on sexual violence.
A fundamental aim of the Strategy is to change societal attitudes to domestic and sexual violence. New initiatives on intimate image abuse and on the importance of sexual consent in healthy relationships have been produced this year, while another on DSGBV support services is in development and will be launched before the end of the year.
A key priority under the Zero Tolerance strategy is to double the number of refuge places over the lifetime of the strategy to 280 spaces.
Development of up to 36 refuge units is underway in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan to be delivered by end 2024.
There will be 98 refuge units in priority locations delivered by end 2025 along with a further 19 additional and upgraded units by the end of the strategy.
The priority locations identified are:
• Sligo (8 family places)
• Cavan/Monaghan (8 family places)
• Cork city (12 family places – 6 new, 6 replacement)
• North Cork (5 family places)
• West Cork (5 family places)
• Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown (10 family places)
• Westmeath (8 family places – four new, four replacements)
• Portlaoise (8 family places)
• Balbriggan (10 family places)
• Longford (8 family places)
• Carlow (8 family places)
• Offaly (8 family places)
Engagement is ongoing to identify lead providers and sites in each of the priority locations with providers identified in most locations, and sites identified in many others.
In addition, an interdepartmental group is developing and progressing agreed processes and approaches to ensure we have the highest standard of refuge accommodation, delivered in the most efficient way.
This will result in a more streamlined process for capital funding applications for new refuges, and it has always been envisaged that the provision of new refuge spaces would accelerate as we progress through the lifetime of the Zero Tolerance strategy.
Under Budget 2024, in excess of €10m in additional funding for combatting DSGBV has been allocated. This represents a significant increase.
This additional funding will support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance plan, including by allowing for the establishment of the new agency, and will greatly assist the agency in meeting the acute needs for services throughout the country.
The agency will have a core budget of €43m next year which will increase nationwide coverage, and will boost the momentum in implementing the ambitious goals set out in the Zero Tolerance plan.
To strengthen our laws in this area and to encourage more victims to come forward, I introduced legislation which creates new standalone offences of non-fatal strangulation and stalking. The Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act – which was signed into law by the President in July - also increases the maximum penalty for assault causing harm from five to ten years.
In July, I also published draft legislation to give effect to a number of recommendations from the Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences by an expert group led by Professor Tom O’Malley, which will provide further protections for victims. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences & Human Trafficking) Bill 2023 is currently before the Dáil.
I am also deeply committed to implementing in full all of the actions set out in Supporting a Victim's Journey, and the Third National Strategy builds on what has already been achieved, including to make the system more victim-centred.
I was delighted to bring legislation through the Houses that will establish Cuan, the new statutory agency for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
Cuan will be an agency under the remit of my Department, and funded under the Department of Justice vote.
As one of the Agency’s key functions is to drive implementation of Government policy in respect of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, it will work closely with the Criminal Policy function of the Department of Justice. As set out in the legislation, the Agency may advise the Minister on policy matters and it is envisaged that the Agency’s dedicated research and data function will provide a strong evidence base for policy development into the future.
