Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I stated, we have secured increased funding under budget 2022 to continue the progress made in our work to support the victims of crime and to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. In the past year, we have already delivered several key actions to make the criminal justice system more victim-centred and to improve how we support and protect vulnerable victims, including the introduction of preliminary trial hearings and the roll-out of the divisional protective services unit. The Garda has told me the unit is very effective because its members have been trained and have the expertise to deal with victims of violence. It is important that the victims get that service. I refer to the first cohort of staff at the new sexual offences unit in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions formally taking up their roles, as well as advancing the work to ensure training for all personnel who come into contact with vulnerable victims, increasing funding for NGOs and providing court accompaniment and related information and support services. A review of grants to organisations supporting victims has been undertaken. There is a significant amount of work ongoing in this area.

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