Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is an Executive Office under the aegis of his Department which provides a co-ordinated whole of Government response to violence against women and domestic violence; and if he will provide an update on their work. [11557/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, is an executive office of my Department. Its key task is to ensure the delivery of a well-co-ordinated whole-of-government response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence against women and men. Cosc was established in June 2007 and was given a remit to address these forms of violence from a cross-Government perspective rather than from a purely criminal-justice perspective.

Cosc carries out its co-ordination functions primarily within the framework of the first national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. The strategy was published in March 2010 and covers the period 2010 to 2014. The strategy incorporates the specific tasks assigned to Cosc.

The four high-level goals of the strategy are to promote a culture of prevention and recognition through increased understanding of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; to deliver an effective and consistent service to those affected; to ensure greater effectiveness of policy and service planning; and to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the strategy. The high-level goals cascade down into 59 detailed on-the-ground activities. Progress indicators and structures for implementation are also set out in the strategy.

Cosc consulted a broad range of stakeholders in the State and voluntary sectors to develop the strategy and is now driving its implementation. Consultation continues to form a major element in implementation. This is done through the medium of the national steering committee on violence against women and the national steering committee on violence against men. The steering committees are made up of representatives of the principal non-governmental organisations which provide direct support services to those women and men affected by these forms of violence and the State organisations with responsibilities under the strategy, which provide front-line services to victims of such violence. Bilateral meetings are also held with these organisations and with other regional groups. Cosc maintains a website containing comprehensive information, including the composition of the committees.

Monitoring of the implementation of the strategy is achieved through a high-level group of officials chaired by the Secretary General of my Department. The group, known as the strategy oversight committee, is composed of senior officials from the Departments and national agencies with responsibilities for actions under the strategy. At present, it includes representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána.

Additional information not given on floor of the House.

Cosc reports to the oversight committee twice per year. The report is compiled by Cosc from updates on each action provided by the lead body with responsibility for the action. The report is issued to the national steering committees for its observations before being brought before the oversight committee. Five reports have so far been published on the Cosc website for the period up to the end of June 2012. A sixth report is being finalised for the period to the end of last year. In addition, a mid-term review of the implementation of the strategy was completed in 2012 and published on the Cosc website following consideration by the national steering committees and the oversight committee.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I, along with many Deputies, attended last year a very moving presentation from SAFE Ireland, the umbrella group for domestic violence centres and groups. Its core crisis concerns the need to have enough refuge centres for women. As I am sure the Minister knows, one in five women in Ireland has reported she has been a victim of domestic abuse, either with her current or previous partner. This is a shocking statistic. How can the Minister assure the relevant organisations that the Government can offer them the real supports they need such that when a woman – it is almost always a woman - and her children present themselves in a crisis, they can be given the refuge they need?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Ever since my time working in the free legal advice centres, when Women's Aid started the first hostel for women who are victims of domestic violence, we have not had enough refuges. Unfortunately, even as we went through good times, we did not have adequate accommodation. Funding for refuges for domestic violence victims comes substantially through the Department of Health and HSE as opposed to my Department, which can play only a very small role in this area. It is an issue with which I am very familiar because of my work over the years. We do what we can to be supportive of the various groups engaged in providing refuges for victims of domestic violence. Unfortunately, as with every other area in the State at present, there is a limit on the resources available. I know this is an issue of particular interest and concern to the Minister of State Deputy Kathleen Lynch and the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, who work in this area.

All I can do as Minister for Justice and Equality is urge that funding be provided. Cosc is very conscious of the needs in this area. I would like us to be in a position in which there are greater resources available for providing refuges for those who need a place in which to live safely, even if only temporarily.