Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, is an executive office of my Department. Its key task is to ensure the delivery of a well-co-ordinated whole-of-government response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence against women and men. Cosc was established in June 2007 and was given a remit to address these forms of violence from a cross-Government perspective rather than from a purely criminal-justice perspective.

Cosc carries out its co-ordination functions primarily within the framework of the first national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The strategy was published in March 2010 and covers the period 2010 to 2014. The strategy incorporates the specific tasks assigned to Cosc.

The four high-level goals of the strategy are to promote a culture of prevention and recognition through increased understanding of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; to deliver an effective and consistent service to those affected; to ensure greater effectiveness of policy and service planning; and to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the strategy. The high-level goals cascade down into 59 detailed on-the-ground activities. Progress indicators and structures for implementation are also set out in the strategy.

Cosc consulted a broad range of stakeholders in the State and voluntary sectors to develop the strategy and is now driving its implementation. Consultation continues to form a major element in implementation. This is done through the medium of the national steering committee on violence against women and the national steering committee on violence against men. The steering committees are made up of representatives of the principal non-governmental organisations which provide direct support services to those women and men affected by these forms of violence and the State organisations with responsibilities under the strategy, which provide front-line services to victims of such violence. Bilateral meetings are also held with these organisations and with other regional groups. Cosc maintains a website containing comprehensive information, including the composition of the committees.

Monitoring of the implementation of the strategy is achieved through a high-level group of officials chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. The group, known as the strategy oversight committee, is composed of senior officials from the Departments and national agencies with responsibilities for actions under the strategy. At present, it includes representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána.

Additional information not given on floor of the House.

Cosc reports to the oversight committee twice per year. The report is compiled by Cosc from updates on each action provided by the lead body with responsibility for the action. The report is issued to the national steering committees for its observations before being brought before the oversight committee. Five reports have so far been published on the Cosc website for the period up to the end of June 2012. A sixth report is being finalised for the period to the end of last year. In addition, a mid-term review of the implementation of the strategy was completed in 2012 and published on the Cosc website following consideration by the national steering committees and the oversight committee.

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