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

I reassure the House that all 16 rape crisis centres across the country have suffered no reduction in funding. Rape and violence against women is repugnant to all right-minded people. This Government is committed to supporting victims of such heinous crimes and to supporting the rape crisis centres. Tusla is committed to ensuring that we have accurate and complete data so that we can plan ahead and fill any gaps in services across the country. I remind Deputy Ellis that the Government also funds organisations which provide services to the victims of domestic violence, both women and children, to the tune of €17 million per year.

I commend the work of the rape crisis centres, their volunteers and all those who support victims of domestic violence. I commit that this Government will continue to support these services and will seek to expand them where gaps have been found to exist and where services are difficult for victims to access.

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