Gay Mitchell
Ceist:222 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement confirming support for a view outlined in correspondence (details supplied). [4819/03]
Written Answers. - Domestic Violence.
In 2000 my Department, in conjunction with the North-Eastern Health Board, commissioned Kieran McKeown Limited, Social and Economic Research Consultants, to prepare a literature review of research carried out in other jurisdictions on domestic violence and men. The report was sought to provide a basis for the health services to respond to the needs of male victims of domestic violence and because of the absence of information on this issue in an Irish context.
The first draft of the review was circulated to the health boards and other official agencies for comment. It was then returned to the authors for amendment. A second draft was submitted to the Department which sent it for independent peer review.
Since this project was first begun the National Crime Council has commenced a study on domestic abuse which will question women and men and will be nationally representative. Using telephone interviewing the study will seek to estimate the prevalence of domestic abuse in Ireland today, service uptake and service satisfaction by victims of domestic abuse, the knowledge and awareness of members of the public of domestic abuse and knowledge of available services. My Department is contributing towards the cost of the study and the health boards are represented on its advisory group. My Department has passed to the council my Department's work to date on the literature review so that it can inform, where appropriate, the council's work. The following documents have been placed on my Department's website in the interest of openness and transparency: Draft Report, March 2002; Peer Review 1, September 2002; and Peer Review 2, September 2002; and Comments of the Authors on the Peer Reviews, January 2003. Please note that the contents of all documents are the responsibility of the respective authors and not of my Department.
In the meantime, my Department, through the NEHB, provides funding to AMEN, a voluntary organisation which provides services to male victims of domestic violence. Funding for 2003 is still under consideration within the health board. In previous years the following amounts were made available: 1999 –€20,315.81 or £16,000; 2000 –€12,697.38 or £10,000; 2001 –€63,486.90 or £50,000; and in 2002 –€20,000 or £15,748.
My Department looks forward to receiving the results of the national crime council's study. It will inform health board responses to the service needs of male victims of domestic violence.