Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. Everyone is aware of the great importance of the domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services at any time but now, in light of the current circumstances, they are particularly important. I welcome the focus by a number of Deputies on this particular issue.

Improving services for victims of domestic violence is a key priority for the Government. The Deputy will have seen a very detailed section in the programme for Government on this particular area. This is reflected in my commitment and that of my colleague, the Minster for Justice and Equality, in undertaking an audit of responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence across Departments. I have engaged with service providers over the past few weeks on these issues. I am committed to ensuring that the audit identifies the required infrastructure for a better policy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and that services be dealt with in as effective a manner as possible.

Tusla is undertaking a strategic review of emergency accommodation for victims of domestic violence. This will provide insight into the current distribution of services but will also highlight unmet needs across the country.

Spending on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services has increased by €4.7 million since 2016. This has resulted in positive developments, including new refuges, which I referred to in response to an earlier question, in south Dublin and Galway city, the recruitment of additional outreach workers and the roll-out of support programmes for children affected by domestic violence.

My Department provided €25.3 million to Tusla for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services last year. This year, we will provide at least an additional €1.2 million for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services specifically relating to Covid-19. I prioritised funding for Tusla in the budget. In my engagement with Tusla I stated I wanted the agency to view domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services as a priority in the business plan it will submit to me for 2021. We will continue to work closely with Tusla on the provision of these important services to ensure people who are affected by domestic, sexual and gender-based violence are properly and fully supported.

See this speech in context