Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1426. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the supports that are in place in cases in which a person who is trapped in a domestic abuse situation in which their life and the lives of their children are at risk; the person or body that they or their family can contact to report this situation; and the way that the situation is handled in order to recover them safely and ensure that they are protected from their abuser. [43265/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of such heinous crimes.
I am informed by the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána attaches the highest priority to combatting all forms of domestic abuse and to helping and protecting those that are victims of this hideous crime. Operation Faoiseamh, launched at the start of the pandemic, is an ongoing proactive initiative. It is designed to ensure victims of domestic abuse are supported and protected and ensures domestic abuse incidents receive the highest priority response from Gardaí.
Divisional Protective Service Units have also been rolled out across the country and are now available in every Garda division. This means that specially trained officers are available nationwide who will be responsible for engagement with, and interviewing of, vulnerable victims. This ensures that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual violence present to Gardaí, they are met with specialist professional and expert assistance.
The Deputy will be aware that victims of domestic violence can access legal advice from the Legal Aid Board through its law centre network or via referral to a private solicitor. In order to improve access to this service, the requirement for a victim of domestic violence to pay a contribution in order to access the service was removed in 2017.
My Department also provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services to victims of crime, including victims of domestic and sexual crime, within the criminal justice system.
A total of €13m has been allocated to further our work in these important areas under Budget 2022. This includes an additional €2.4m allocated for specific awareness raising and training programmes on domestic, sexual and gender based violence (DSGBV), bringing to €5.35m the funding available for combatting DSGBV.
€4.9m has been allocated to supporting Victims of Crime – this includes an additional €785,000 in direct supports to NGOs and specific domestic violence intervention programmes.
An additional €1 million is being provided under the Garda Vote to refurbish the Divisional Protective Service Units.
In addition to the above, a review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing front-line services was conducted to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them. Specific geographical areas and categories of victims that are not adequately covered by NGO supports have been identified and my Department agreed revised funding of €445,000 to ensure that we fill the gaps in supports and categories of victims identified.
To promote more sustainable service delivery and planning, we are also offering multi-annual funding commitments to key NGOs we work with where funding covers staff salaries. These funding grants cover accompaniment to court, to Garda interviews and to sexual assault treatment units and emotional support.
As I am sure the Deputy is aware, my Department is going to assume responsibility for services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, in addition to the policy responsibility already held. To deliver excellent services, supports and accommodation and set world class standards, we will establish a new statutory agency with responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence by January 1 2024.
In June, I launched the new whole-of-government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. This new plan has a particular focus on prevention, and on ensuring victims are better supported. It sets an overall goal of zero tolerance in our society for domestic violence.
Whilst my Department and Tulsa has provided increased funding year on year to support organisations in the sector to provide vital supports to victims, including helplines and refuges, we know we need to do more and we are determined to do so. This commitment is reflected in the strategy, which includes actions to ensure a victim/survivor centred approach to access the domestic and sexual violence information, services and supports through a €363 million investment.
The strategy commits to the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces – a doubling of spaces over the lifetime of this strategy, and the establishment of dedicated structures and standards to further accelerate the provision of refuge spaces.
The strategy also includes actions which will see tougher sentences for some of the most common cases of domestic abuse, and new laws to support victims and punish perpetrators. This includes examining the legal barriers that can prevent individuals experiencing sexual and or domestic violence to remain at home where it is safe to do so.
We continue to look at strengthening legislation in this area. I recently secured Government approval for the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, which will increase the maximum sentence for assault causing harm from five years to 10 years, make stalking and non-fatal strangulation stand-alone offences, and expand the existing harassment offence.
Assault causing harm is one of the most common charges in cases of domestic abuse, while non-fatal strangulation is frequently used as a tool of coercion, often accompanied by threats to kill, in domestic abuse cases.
Among other commitments in the new Strategy is to work with An Garda Síochána with an aim to improve prosecutions of breaches of any and all DSGBV civil orders provided for in domestic violence and family law legislation.
Other actions include a consideration to review and strengthen the range of emergency Domestic Violence Act orders available to the courts, and to improve the service and recording of orders in conjunction with the Court Service and the police service.
