Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV). In 2020, I am providing core funding of €25.3m to Tusla to support the DSGBV sector, including 16 rape crisis centres throughout the country. In addition to core funding, an additional €1.2 million has been reserved for DSGBV services funded by Tusla to respond to the challenges arising from Covid-19 in 2020.
As Tusla provides direct funding to rape crisis centres, each organisation has a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Tusla, and engages with Tusla in relation to service issues on a regular basis. I have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy with regard to waiting lists for counselling in individual rape crisis centres around the country.