Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not plan on taking too much time today. I thank the Minister for his contribution at the start. I know the Chairman already spoke about domestic violence, which has been very prevalent. In several meetings and engagements with community-based services, I have heard that they have seen an increase in the number of victims of domestic violence presenting. I am talking about some of the non-traditional supports. Those running youth services, for example, are hearing from young people who access their services that they see much more of it at home. Those running the family resource centres have also highlighted an increase in it. I ask the Minister to give an overview of the increase in expenditure in programme A. How will that contribute to targeting the needs of victims of abuse?

I am not sure if this matter comes under the Minister's remit and it may come under the Department of Justice but in response to a parliamentary question in November 2020, I was advised that more than 7,000 people had reported incidents of domestic abuse to An Garda Síochána. Some 5,500 of them were women, but 1,500 of the people who reported domestic abuse were men. I am aware that there is a programme for perpetrators of domestic abuse called Choices, which is for men, but it is not available for women who are perpetrators of domestic abuse. Does the Minister have any thoughts on that? I am not sure if it is under his remit. Are there any programmes for female perpetrators of domestic abuse? As we know, victims of female abuse can often face a particular stigma due to female violence not fitting into society's norms. Is there anything for that because it could help break the stigma?

Today I had a meeting with representatives of Transgender Equality Network Ireland, TENI, and BeLonG To to discuss some issues they have. I notice that gender-based violence, trans issues, surrogacy, assisted human reproduction, online safety and the shortcomings of women's health screening are constant and have emerged as core issues over 2020 and 2021. How is the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth keeping its finger on the pulse in respect of these issues?

TENI also raised the issue of the access to services for young trans people who are looking for them, particularly access to child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. Seven recommendations were laid out in a report in 2020, none of which has been implemented yet. Does the Minister have any feedback on that? I appreciate that it might not come under his remit.