Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the Taoiseach's comments in the House on 15 June during his interaction with Deputy Howlin on this important issue.

Tusla has allocated funding of €20.6 million in 2016 to support front-line services dealing with domestic, sexual and gender-based abuse. This includes additional funding of €200,000, requested by Tusla, to implement the provisions of the Istanbul Convention, which deals with violence against women and domestic violence. There is an obligation under the Istanbul Convention to have a dedicated free 24-hour national helpline in place for contact regarding domestic violence.

I recognise the valuable work undertaken by Women’s Aid in the provision of national helpline services for domestic violence and the work of other specialist domestic violence service provider organisations that operate helpline contact.

Tusla is currently working with these organisations, as part of a commissioning process, to support the availability of a co-ordinated, accessible national helpline service that can provide both initial contact points and facilitate integrated responses to victims of domestic violence.

Tusla intends to introduce the commissioning approach for the domestic violence helpline from 2017 and will be engaging formally with providers, including Women's Aid, around this process in the coming months. The issue of costs as well as service specifications is being considered as part of the helpline commissioning process. It will be developed in the fourth quarter.

I was delighted to note that the Women's Aid helpline became a 24-7 service in recent months and I look forward to launching it formally in September. It certainly has my support.

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