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

I understand that the Deputy's question relates to Rape Crisis Network Ireland, and I am responding on this basis. Tusla has undertaken a comprehensive review of sexual and domestic violence services in consultation with service providers. The purpose was to identify strategic priorities and to set out a roadmap for the future delivery of these services. It is seeking through this process to address any identified gaps in services, to avoid duplication and to support effective delivery of front-line services nationally. Tusla considers that there is scope for more co-ordinated and more equitable provision of these services across the country. One of the concerns identified by Tusla, and by Deputy Collins, relates to the completeness and availability of data to plan and deliver services.

For the first time domestic and sexual violence services are being developed as a specialist national service with a single line of accountability so as to enable better outcomes for both children and adults who are survivors of sexual violence. A roadmap for the future of service delivery has been approved by Tusla’s board.

Funding provided to RCNI by Tusla was to develop and maintain a database of information recorded by workers in rape crisis centres. Tusla had concerns that this database did not capture information from all 16 rape crisis centres as only 11 centres are affiliated with the network.

In addition, Tusla did not always have timely access to the data collected, which is essential to support the delivery of high quality services across both the domestic violence and sexual violence services sectors. 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.

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