Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2016
206. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has requested an additional €30 million in annual funding to specifically address domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8165/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department has overall policy responsibility for coordinating the whole of Government response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, under the aegis of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, is responsible for providing care and protection to victims of domestic violence in accordance with section 8 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, and as such is the primary funder of such services.
Looking at the published accounts of service providers from 2014 (latest figures available) the domestic violence voluntary and community sector spent approximately €34.8m in 2014.
The Victims of Crime Office in my Department has allocated €536,200 funding for the domestic violence sector for 2016, primarily for court accompaniment. In addition, the state spends on policing, court services, prison services, health services and social protection funding in relation to victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. However, these figures are not disaggregated from the budget totals for the different state bodies involved.
