Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for the comprehensive treatment she has given to this important matter. Domestic, sexual and gender-based violence are serious health, social and human rights issues that affect people across society from all walks of life and all cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds and across all age groups. The majority of victims are women but a significant number of men are affected and abuse also occurs in same sex relationships. With a view to tackling these serious issues, the Department of Justice and Equality established Cosc, as an executive office of that Department. Cosc's 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, men and older people in the community. In March 2010 the Government launched a national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, a four-year strategy to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Responsibility for the implementation of this strategy lies with Cosc.

The HSE published its own complementary policy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, which is in line with the national strategy. The HSE policy focuses on eight key high level goals and actions, including standardisation of service provision across the country, training for all HSE staff and voluntary-community sector providers and a strong focus on hearing the voice of service users in all aspects of service planning, design, development, delivery and evaluation. The HSE allocated more than €18.2 million in 2013 to domestic violence services, which is a 2.5% reduction compared to 2012 due to the overall HSE budget deficit. As with all domestic violence services, this 2.5% cut was also applied to Women's Aid Dundalk, the allocation to which is €425,000 in 2013. This allocation goes towards funding of support staff working in refuges for the victims of domestic violence as well as those involved in associated support services.

Non-pay current funding is allocated through the local authorities. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government recoups current funding to local housing authorities under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 for accommodation and related services for homeless persons, which can include victims of domestic violence. A significant portion of the funding provided annually is in respect of domestic violence refuges. Some €2.5 million was provided in 2012 under section 10 towards the costs of domestic violence-related facilities and initiatives nationwide. In addition to refuges, victims of domestic violence may also use other mainstream homeless accommodation solutions that are funded by the Department, for example, hostels, bed and breakfast and transitional accommodation.

The national implementation plan for the homeless strategy provided for the development of a more devolved allocation-based system for the provision of accommodation-related current funding to housing authorities with emphasis on increased decision making at local level. Under these arrangements, responsibility for decision-making on the funding of particular services within available allocations rests with the statutory homeless management group. In this instance, it is the north-east regional homeless management group led by Louth County Council. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has no function, nor is it involved in, decisions on operational matters.