Vol. 518 No. 2
8 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the significant increase in the number of people, mainly women, who have sought the protection of the courts in Dublin from violence by family members; the additional steps, if any, he is taking to protect people from domestic violence of this nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11195/00]
I have been informed by the Courts Service that the numbers who sought the protection of the courts in the Dublin area by way of barring orders, protection orders and safety orders in the period August 1998 to July 1999, the latest year for which statistics are readily available, totalled 4,891. The corresponding figures for the periods August 1997 to July 1998 were 5,115 and August 1996 to July 1997, 5,562. The number of orders granted were 2,450, 2,313 and 2,775 respectively.
There has also been an increase in interim barring orders granted since 1996-97, with the figure rising from 152 in that year to 712 in 1997-98 and 610 in 1998-99. The changes in these figures are explained by the fact that this is a new order introduced under the Domestic Violence Act, 1996. The order can be granted on the making of an application for a barring order or between the time of the making of the application and its determination by the court. Also, if the court is of the view that the granting of a protection order would not be sufficient to protect the applicant or any dependent person prior to the hearing of the main court action, it can grant an interim barring order.
I understand from the figures that the majority of applications for orders were made by spouses or common law spouses. There were 4,170 in 1998-99 and 4,451 in 1997-98. The figures given also show that there has been an increase in the number of applications made by parents, who can apply under the Domestic Violence Act, 1996 for protection against domestic violence by their own child if the child is over 18. In 1997-98 there were 79 applications and in 1998-99 there were 102 applications. Figures are not available for 1996-97. I am providing the Deputy with a detailed statistical breakdown of the figures I have given.
As part of the Government's initiative to address the problem of violence against women it established in 1997 the national steering committee on violence against women. The committee, which is under the aegis of my Department, is developing a multi-agency and cohesive response to women experiencing violence. To raise awareness about the issue of violence the committee has undertaken two awareness raising campaigns. The initial campaign was aimed at generating a wider public debate on the issue of violence and at raising awareness about the work of the committee. The second campaign was directed at society generally and involved the production of an emblem, which was to be worn to show support for women victims.
The aim of the committee is to encourage women to come forward, report incidents of violence which include not only domestic violence incidents but also rape and sexual assault, and avail of the services in their area. The committee is also in the process of considering the establishment of a single crisis telephone referral service which will facilitate easier access to services. As part of this process a research project has been commissioned. The initial element of the work is nearing completion, that is, the production of a directory of services. The researchers will also examine the costs involved in the delivery of the referral service, likely levels of calls to the line and evaluate the impact on existing services. Regional committees, established in each of the eight health board areas, are working on the provision of services in their respective regions and developing local and regional responses for victims.
My Department is not the only Department involved in supporting victims of domestic violence. The other Departments involved are: the Department of Health and Children, which is responsible, through the health boards, for the provision of funding to the various service providers that work with victims; the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which, through the local authorities, provides accommodation for homeless persons including victims of family violence; the Department of Education and Science which is responsible for the issue in the schools and provides courses on related subjects; and the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs which funds community development programmes and grant aids local groups dealing with the issue.
Does the Minister of State share my alarm at the 12% increase in reporting during that year? That is in line with a general increase in reporting of crimes of rape and sexual assault to the Garda while there is a decrease in the reporting of other types of serious crime. Does she intend to take measures to deal with this serious issue? Will she also discuss the 25% increase in the number of parents seeking protection from their adult children? That is most alarming. Will she also discuss the funding for the implementation of the recommendations of the task force on violence against women? Rape crisis centres, refuges and support services such as Women's Aid are concerned that there should be more funding in this area both for prevention and for dealing with the problem.
With regard to the Deputy's alarm at the increase in reporting of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault cases, it should be borne in mind that much of the work of the national steering committee on violence against women is to encourage victims, particularly women, to report such crimes. Some of the increase in the rape and sexual assault figures is obviously historical in nature. With regard to the domestic violence figures, it is important that more victims report the crime of domestic violence and thereby seek help.
The Deputy also expressed concern about funding for the implementation of the task force recommendations and for rape crisis centres and Women's Aid. These are matters for the Department of Health and Children which funds services for victims of domestic violence. Increased funding has been provided in each of the past three years.
With regard to the 25% increase in orders sought by parents of adult children, this is a new provision. We fought long and hard to ensure that the Domestic Violence Act, 1996, would take account of the fact that not all domestic violence is between spouses. Sometimes parents have a need to report violence by their children. Reportings on this has only begun since the 1996 Act.
We are all alarmed at the figures the Minister of State has revealed today. Does she agree that in dealing with domestic violence we do not concentrate enough on prevention and that our reaction is always to introduce measures to deal with those who have suffered from domestic violence? Has she proposals that place greater emphasis on prevention rather than dealing with instances as they arise? Is she satisfied with the effectiveness of the help line she introduced last year?
The single crisis telephone referral line referred to by Deputy Ahearn is an important aspect in dealing with matters of domestic violence against women. Being a referral service, a lot of research is being done on it in terms of establishing a directory of services so as to have the telephone numbers of all the service providers around the country. When established, the line will be a referral service providing an identified telephone number for victims who will be put through to the appropriate service they require.
There are many needs in the prevention area. People must be aware that they do not have to suffer the crime of domestic violence. We are encouraging people to be aware of the fact that the crime should not remain hidden in the home and that they should seek support from families and neighbours to root the crime out of society.
