James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ellis for rising this issue and I understand that he is referring to Rape Crisis Network Ireland, RCNI. I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position with regard to the funding of this organisation.

With effect from its establishment on 1 January 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has taken on statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence in the home or otherwise. Funding of approximately €17 million transferred to Tusla from the HSE on 1 January 2014 in respect of these services. Additional funding of €2.541 million subsequently transferred to Tusla from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of domestic violence refuges and services. Tusla funds 60 specialist domestic violence and sexual violence services, mainly through service arrangements with non-governmental organisations. This year, it will spend more than €19 million in supporting 44 domestic violence services and 16 sexual violence-rape crisis services. Tusla has a total revenue budget of €643 million in 2015, including €631 million in current funding and €12 million in capital. This represents an increase of €34 million or 5.6% on funding provided to Tusla in budget 2014.

This funding increase demonstrates that despite the budgetary constraints, the Government remains strongly committed to delivering the critically important resources and reforms needed to support Ireland's children and families. This additional funding is helping to drive key priorities in the reform of services and is assisting the agency to deliver on its mandate from Government.

Sexual violence services are being developed by Tusla as a national specialist service to enable better outcomes for both children and adults who are survivors of sexual violence. In this regard, Tusla has appointed a national manager to ensure a single line of accountability for all resources in this important area. In addition, Tusla is currently in the process of recruiting eight additional staff to ensure domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services are further developed. Tusla has undertaken a comprehensive review of sexual violence and domestic violence services. The purpose was to identify strategic priorities and set out a roadmap for the delivery of these services.

Tusla considers that there is scope for a more co-ordinated and equitable provision of these services throughout the country. In reviewing the make-up of current services, it is seeking to address any identified gaps in services to avoid duplication and to support effective delivery of front-line services nationally. It is in this context that Tusla has taken the decision to cease funding the RCNI and to take on direct responsibility for what is the development and maintenance of a database of information recorded on behalf of the rape crisis centres.

First, Tusla had a number of concerns with regard to the service provided. Tusla was concerned that this database did not capture information from all 16 rape crisis centres as only 11 centres are affiliated to the network. In addition, Tusla did not always have timely access to the data collected, which I am sure the House would agree is essential to support the planning and delivery of high-quality services across both the domestic violence and sexual violence services sector. To plan properly for the future, Tusla needs access to complete and reliable information. Consequently, Tusla has taken the decision to put in place a comprehensive data system that best meets the current and future data needs of a developing service. I am mindful of data deficiencies across the system and I have raised the issue of how this should be improved with the board and executive of Tusla as a priority for 2015. I support Tusla's efforts to address shortfalls in this area. As part of revised governance arrangements, funded sexual violence services will provide information directly to Tusla, creating for the first time a comprehensive national dataset on all such services funded by the agency. This information is critically important as Tusla continues to reform services to ensure we provide the best possible response to survivors of sexual violence.

I emphasise that in my discussions this year with Tusla regarding service delivery, I asked that particular priority be given to protecting front-line services. In this context, I am pleased that funding for the 16 rape crisis centres nationwide which provide services directly to rape survivors has been protected in 2015, with funding of almost €4 million allocated to them. The RCNI does not provide services directly to survivors of sexual violence. The RCNI continues to be in receipt of funding from other statutory providers such as Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, and the Commission for Support of Victims of Crime.

I assure the House that the Government and Tusla are strongly committed to providing effective responses to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The agency takes a broad view of its responsibilities in this regard, recognising that these issues are complex and require a whole of Government response. At all times, the first and key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims of sexual violence are being met in the best way possible.

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