Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In regard to domestic, sexual and gender based violence, as Deputy Daly said, we anticipate an increase in enforcement so it is important that funding is available to support that. Significant work is being done on the new strategy and the link with how services have been covered with Tusla. On a related point in respect of the youth justice strategy and the Garda youth diversion office, one of the big problems over the years has been follow-up with Tusla where a decision is taken not to prosecute a child but to refer him or her for therapy, counselling or Tusla-based welfare follow-ups. Historically, the monitoring of the follow-up has been weak. I am flagging more than anything else because I know so much has been invested in the youth justice strategy. We need to make sure those Tusla follow-ups are monitored in some way to ensure they take place. There is not much point in choosing not to prosecute a child because he or she needs a welfare-based intervention if nobody checks how the decision is followed up.

Similarly with the prisons, as Deputy Costello mentioned, there has not been a report of the Inspector of Prisons report for some time for various reasons, which is a pity. I could be wrong but it could be four or five years at this point. The visiting committees have not been working well recently. When the suite of legislation is being considered, will there be some capacity to mandate a timeliness, or regularity, as to when that report is done? This would enhance transparency.

The community safety innovation fund is a fantastic initiative. When will it open? I was really only flagging the other issues while we have the opportunity to do so.