Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I thank Deputy Wall. Before this ever became an issue he asked me to visit the building. As he has described, it is a building any of us would live in. It is an incredible five-star building. We are not addressing the central issue in the reply but perhaps we can in the supplementary questions.

Domestic violence is a serious health and human rights issue. In March 2010 the Government launched a four year strategy to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Cosc is the national office established in 2007 under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality to ensure the delivery of the Government's strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

The HSE also launched its own policy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in 2010. The principal actions of this policy are in line with Government strategy. International and domestic research, as the Deputy said, indicates the health care system is usually the first route through which domestic violence victims seek support. In recognition of this, the HSE has reviewed various models to support staff to recognise, respond and refer appropriately regarding domestic violence.

The HSE, through its primary care and hospital services, manages the significant impact of domestic violence or sexual violence on the health and well-being of victims. HSE staff and allied health professionals provide a range of services to people who experience domestic violence. Nationally, the HSE funds 45 front line domestic violence service providers, of which 20 provide refuge accommodation. The services provide a wide range of supports, such as advocacy and counselling, and were funded to the tune of €14.6 million in 2011, of which €10.4 million was granted to 20 refuges. In addition €4.5 million was provided by the HSE to fund sexual violence services in 2011.

Every HSE region in Ireland has at least one refuge available providing crisis emergency accommodation. All but one, located in the western region, are accessible on a 24 hour basis. There are ten counties in which refuge facilities are not located but the support service providers in these locations may refer clients to refuge services in neighbouring counties. There are currently 138 emergency accommodation units funded by the HSE nationally. These units may offer accommodation to a single client or a client with accompanying children, and are intended to provide emergency or transitional crisis accommodation.

National statistics on domestic violence for 2010 published by Safe Ireland, the national representative body for 39 women's front line domestic violence services, show a substantial increase in demand for services in 2010 compared to 2009. It is within the context of this increased demand for domestic violence services that the HSE is currently in the process of conducting a national and regional review of domestic violence service provision. Its aim is to ensure that funding is allocated according to need and that areas of high demand are appropriately resourced. Findings from the review will inform service development.

I reassure the Deputy that the Government is fully committed to addressing the problems of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

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