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Domestic Violence

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 November 2020

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Ceisteanna (657, 660, 683)

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

657. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice if a national services development plan will commence in 2020; and if so, if it will be led by an organisation (details supplied) and its 38 frontline member services as the crucial first step in developing a comprehensive national response to domestic abuse and coercive control. [36328/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

660. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if a national services development plan will commence in 2020; if so, if it will be led by an organisation (details supplied) and its 38 frontline member services as the crucial first step in developing a comprehensive national response to domestic abuse and coercive control that will work and that will be evidence based; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36354/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

683. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice her views on establishing a national development plan to address the sharp increase in women and children fleeing domestic violence during Covid-19 as outlined in the report by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37102/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 657, 660 and 683 together.

Tackling domestic abuse, which includes coercive control, and providing structures that meet the needs of victims, is the collective aim of the Government and is a priority for me as Minister for Justice.

The Programme for Government commits to an audit of how responsibility for Domestic, Sexual and Gender based Violence (DSGBV) is segmented across different government agencies. The audit will be undertaken by an external consultant with meaningful involvement from relevant NGOs and service providers, as well as input from Departments and agencies.

The terms of reference for the audit have been finalised, and a procurement process to engage an independent person to undertake the audit has commenced with details available on my Department's website (www.justice.ie). It is intended that the audit will be completed within 3 months of commissioning and the findings of it will be presented to Government before the end of March 2021 in line with the commitment made. 

The Deputies may also be aware that, over the last decade, work in this area has been conducted through successive DSGBV strategies. My Department coordinates the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2016-2021, which is a whole-of-Government approach to delivering on the many actions necessary to address these matters fully.

The Strategy includes input from relevant community and voluntary groups as well as other stakeholders across the sector. This is achieved through a Monitoring Committee composed of stakeholders from all sectors working together in partnership; as well as ongoing cooperation between the Department and frontline services and industry partners.  The Monitoring Committee and the NGOs represented on it are key partners for my Department in our work to tackle DSGBV and will be a primary focus of our consultations in the audit process. I can confirm for the Deputy that the organisation referred to is a member of the Monitoring Committee.

Overall, the Strategy aims to considerably strengthen the law and structures in Ireland targeting domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and considerable progress has been made in addressing these issues through the Strategy.

Without prejudice to the outcome of the audit, a review of the outstanding actions has been conducted to inform the forthcoming 3rd National Strategy on DSGBV, to be developed and agreed by Government before the end of 2021.

As part of the ensuring a national response to domestic violence, my Department in 2020 provided just over €2 million in funding to support training and awareness initiatives in relation to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and €1.9 million euro in funding to support victims of crime, including victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. This year I have secured funding of over €2 million for combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence and €2.1 million to support victims of crime. In addition, I have secured €2.3 million to implement Supporting a Victims Journey - A plan to help victims and vulnerable witnesses in sexual violence cases which I published last month.

‘Supporting a Victims Journey’ will be implemented as a priority and it includes the provision of specific training for all of the key personnel a victim comes into contact with during the course of their journey throughout the criminal justice system. Such personnel includes the Gardaí, the DPP, the judiciary and the legal profession. Engagement on development of training programmes for serving Gardaí, the legal professions and members of the judiciary who are participating in sexual offences investigations and trials has already started, and I expect this training will be further rolled out in 2021.

The Deputies may also be interested to know that the rollout of the Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSU) within An Garda Síochána is now complete with DPSUs in every Garda division across the country. The completion of the rollout of DPSUs means that specially trained officers are available nationwide who will be responsible for engagement with, and interviewing of, vulnerable victims.  This will ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist professional and expert assistance.

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