Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 June 2019
145. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of financial support provided to a centre (details supplied) in each of the past five years; the non-financial supports provided to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25743/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is the primary statutory funder for sexual violence services, including rape crisis centres in the state.
In 2019, the Tusla national provision for frontline Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence services is €25.3 million.
This allocation includes direct funding provision to the rape crisis centres and I am advised that Tusla is providing an allocation of €444,250 this year to the centre in question.
My Department has not provided direct funding to the centre in question for the last five years. Financial and other supports are, however, provided to the centre through funding provided by my Department to the Rape Crisis Network Ireland which is an umbrella organisation for such centres.
In this regard my Department through Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and the Victims of Crime Office is providing combined approved funding of €95,000 in 2019 to the Network for its work in this area.
These funds are utilised by the Network in providing a legal co-ordinator service which provides legal advice and training supports to rape crisis centre staff including to staff from the centre in question. The network also administers financial supports to rape crisis centres in their provision of court and Garda accompaniment services for victims of sexual crime. The Network co-ordinates the overall administration of both the accompaniment service itself and the essential associated training needs of staff and volunteers to carry out such services.
Given the nature of how these services are provided it is not feasible to provide a further breakdown of this funding allocation against each rape crisis centre being supported by the Network.
