Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising an important current matter. We have seen how incidents of domestic violence have, unfortunately, been increasing in any event but have increased further since the onset of Covid-19. I am very conscious of that and it is the reason we allocated the additional funding this year.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and I very much share his concerns for those who have been affected by domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic. In March, my predecessor as Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, ensured additional resources, support, enforcement and services were made available to key organisations in this area. This support was maintained and increased in last week's budget allocations and is of primary consideration in the context of the move to level 5 in the national framework for living with Covid-19.

My Department also initiated and continues to run the "Still Here" public awareness campaign, which we updated and refreshed this year. We do this in partnership with public sector organisations and the non-governmental organisation sector. The "Still Here" campaign is about getting the message out that services continue to be available to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence no matter what.

I reassure the Deputy, and more important, anyone who is a victim or at risk of domestic or sexual abuse, that help continues to be available. An Garda Síochána, the courts and other services, including the vital supports provided by our highly skilled and committed community and voluntary services, are still here for them regardless of the restrictions we are facing in the coming weeks. Throughout the first lockdown phase, the Garda Síochána was particularly active through Operation Faoiseamh and the courts, which were mainly closed, remained open to help those who were vulnerable, particularly those who were victims of domestic violence.

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