Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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40. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered a review of legal protections in place for children who are victims of domestic abuse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39932/16]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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My question is quite closely related to Deputy O'Sullivan's question. Has the Minister considered a review of legal protections in place for children who are victims of domestic abuse?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am greatly saddened by the levels of domestic violence in our country and the impact this has on our children.

Many cases are covered by the media but many others remain hidden, as the Deputy will be aware. While overall policy responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence rests with the Department of Justice and Equality, it is an issue which impacts severely on children’s lives and which is of great concern to me.

In 2014, Tusla assumed statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic violence. It funds some 60 services throughout the country. These include emergency refuge and support services, community-based domestic violence support services and rape crisis centres.

It is time to update the legislation and I am in the process of providing observations on the Domestic Violence Bill.

The Children First Act 2015 falls under the remit of my Department. It places elements of the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published in 2011, on a statutory basis and is being commenced on a phased basis.

The Act will be fully commenced by the end of next year. It will impose a statutory obligation on mandated persons to report concern of harm over a defined threshold to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. This will be required to be done without delay and in a specified format. It will also place obligations on providers of relevant services to children, including domestic violence shelters, to keep children safe from harm while availing of their services.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Both the Minister and Deputy Jan O'Sullivan referred to the Barnardos campaign, What's the Harm? It was a very powerful campaign. The following are quotes from the document, "I know it’s my fault when Mammy and Daddy fight. I can be naughty sometimes.", "No one told me it was a secret but I knew I was not supposed to tell." and "Daddy bit Mummy’s face. I was scared. I told him to stop."

The campaign contains some harrowing stories and Barnardos deserves to be commended on highlighting them. In 2015, more than 16,300 incidents of domestic violence against women disclosed during contacts with Women's Aid direct services. In the same year, 616 incidents of sexual abuse were disclosed to the services including 212 rapes. As the Minister is aware, children are victims in all this. A €4 million EU fund is available to each member state to raise awareness of domestic violence and the State has not drawn this money down. I ask that the Minister call on her colleagues to avail of the funding and ring fence it to highlight the plight of children as victims of domestic violence.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have reviewed the Barnardos report and its recommendations, many of which we anticipate having in train. For example, one of the recommendations is the ratification of the Istanbul convention. In the 2017 budget, some of the moneys I am providing to Tusla for the unit on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is to provide it with the resources to prepare us for the ratification of the convention. In my direction to Tusla regarding prioritising this matter, we can move forward together in a more progressive manner in terms of our ways of responding to and working out these issues. I will refer the Deputy's identification of a potential fund to my officials and see if there is a possibility of accessing it.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question No. 41 is in the name of Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett who is as láthair. Question No. 42 is in the name of Deputy Bríd Smith who is as láthair. Question No. 43 is in the name of Deputy Anne Rabbitte.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister already covered the issue under Priority Questions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question No. 44 is in the name of Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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This issue was covered.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question No. 45 is in the name of Deputy Paul Murphy who is as láthair. Questions Nos. 46 and 47 are in the name of Deputy Gino Kenny who is as láthair. Question No. 48 is in the name of Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin who is as láthair. Question No. 49 is in the name of Deputy Clare Daly who is as láthair. Question No. 50 is in the name of Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan who was here up to a few minutes ago and did not think we would reach this juncture. Question No. 51 is in the name of Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett who is still láthair. Question No. 52 is in the name of Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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It has been covered. I was not expecting us to reach this point.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Questions Nos. 53 and 54 are in the name of Deputy Ruth Coppinger. Tá sí as láthair freisin.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question No. 55 is in the name of Deputy Anne Rabbitte. I knew her number would come up eventually.