James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Carroll MacNeill for raising this important matter of funding for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, services. As the she is aware, Zero Tolerance, the new national strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence was launched earlier this year. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform and a whole-of-society plan of action. Implementation of the strategy is a whole-of-government priority that is backed up by a substantial funding commitment under budget 2023. An extra €9 million for 2023, which is a 22% increase, and record funding for combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence was secured. This extra €9 million includes increased funding of €6.8 million for organisations funded by Tusla, and this is being made available through a targeted funding call.

The Government has been clear it is our intention that every person who needs a refuge space will have access to one and that victims have access to supports when and where they need them. This extra €6.8 million will be used to maintain existing services, address existing acute demand, and for the enhancement and development of new services. Approximately €1.1 million for safe accommodation will be focused on the priority locations identified under the third national strategy. Under the funding call there is an emphasis on supporting projects to address geographic need for those with additional vulnerabilities or complex needs and for supports for young people who have experienced sexual violence.

There is €2.3 million available to domestic violence services to address acute sustainability and service demand pressures, support organisations to provide greater coverage in rural areas and for children's support services. There is €900,000 available for sexual violence services to meet the needs of younger people and address geographical gaps in provision. This brings the total allocated to Tusla up to €37 million for funding DSGBV services.

Separate to the funding of DSGBV services, the Department of Justice has allocated €6.09 million for other measures to tackle DSGBV, including through awareness-raising campaigns and funding for perpetrator programmes, which are targeted intervention programmes to hold perpetrators to account and which work to prevent future reoffending. The Department of Justice has also allocated a further €5.8 million to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system, and this includes victims of domestic and sexual crime. These services provide important information and support, such as emotional support, court accompaniment, accompaniment to Garda interviews or sexual assault treatment units, and referral to other services.

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