Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to respond to the issue raised by Senator Conway on behalf on my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Zappone.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence whether in the context of the family or otherwise. At all times, Tusla’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims of violence are being met in the best way possible. A network of 60 organisations provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland, including 20 services providing emergency refuge accommodation to women and children, 24 community-based domestic violence services and 16 rape crisis centres.

The Child and Family Agency has developed a more co-ordinated approach to the provision of these services with a single line of accountability and greater support and oversight of service provision by a dedicated national team. In 2016, TusIa had available to it a budget of €20.6 million to support the provision of services in this area. Last year, the 16 rape crisis centres around the country received just over €4 million in funding from Tusla. Additional funding of over €100,000 was made available to rape crisis and sexual violence services in 2016 to address sustainability issues and enhance access with provision of additional outreach services.

Rape Crisis Midwest is based in Limerick city and has centres in Ennis, County Clare, and in Nenagh, County Tipperary. It provides counselling services for survivors of sexual violence throughout the mid-west and also provides information, helpline and advocacy services. Tusla allocated €346,000 in funding to Rape Crisis Midwest in 2016. The level of funding available to Tusla in 2017 for domestic, sexual and gender based violence services is being further increased. This is to be welcomed. Tusla is currently finalising arrangements for the publication of its 2017 business plan. The business plan will confirm details of the funding allocation for these important services in 2017. Tusla is currently engaging with organisations in the sexual violence services sector regarding funding and service arrangements for 2017, and will be confirming funding to individual organisations, including Rape Crisis Midwest, in due course.

As part of its commissioning approach to developing services, Tusla is identifying priority developments and undertaking work to match needs with services for victims and survivors of sexual violence across the country. Access to support services for victims and survivors of rape and sexual violence will be considered as part of commissioning processes, with a particular focus on equitable responses to those who experience sexual violence. The Minister, Deputy Zappone, has emphasised to Tusla the priority that she attaches to the provision of services for those impacted by sexual violence. She has communicated this priority as part of the annual performance statement, which issues to Tusla and which informs the preparation and content of Tusla’s business plan.In conclusion, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, has asked me to assure the House that the Government and Tusla are strongly committed to providing effective responses to victims of sexual violence.