Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the Minister of State. I thank the Office of the Cathaoirleach for choosing this matter.

I am sure the Minister of State will agree that domestic violence is a scourge on society. I wish we did not have to raise these matters and I hope that, at a future date, it will not be an issue that needs to be raised, first, because it is not happening and, second, because there is no issue with funding for domestic violence organisations and refuges across the country. However, at present, unfortunately, there is a need for domestic violence services in this State.

Domestic Violence Response Galway was founded in 1988 as a registered charity. Like any of these organisations, it gets some core funding and is very appreciative of the core funding it receives from Tusla, but it is always looking for additional funding and it has a donation page on its website to seek additional support. We know that Domestic Violence Response Galway supports women and children in Galway city and county impacted by domestic abuse. These include young women who have grown up in abusive homes, the student in her mid-20s stalked by her ex-boyfriend, the woman in her early 60s who has spent decades with an abusive partner and the young mother who is trying to separate safely from her violent and controlling partner. These women are seen every day in the service in Moycullen, Galway, which is next to my home office. Those women who are in immediate danger are urged to contact the Garda at 999 and there is also 24-hour telephone support available from Women's Aid on 1800-341900.

The demand for services has increased exponentially over the years. Between 2021 and 2022, demand increased by 20% and demand for court advocacy services has increased by 50%, so the service must now plan for further expansion to meet the needs. There is an increasing demand for advocacy in the courts because, through legislative changes and through women knowing their rights, they are seeking the assistance of the courts and advocacy is usually important in all of this.

Part of the role of Domestic Violence Response Galway is to get the word out there to women who are impacted that there is a service, there is assistance, there is help, there is support and there is advocacy for them and on their behalf. As I said, thankfully, there has been a huge increase in the number of women who know of the services and who use the courts system, but this means the advocacy service is really stretched. Additional funding is required. As I said, Domestic Violence Response Galway receives core funding from Tusla and, during Covid, the HSE would have given targeted, once-off funding. However, because of the increase in demand for the services, there is a need for increased funding.

We would all agree that Domestic Violence Response Galway does tremendously important work. It is a service that is vital and needed, and it has an important impact on the lives of women who are being abused. As I said, this concerns not just young women but women of all ages, and the children of those women as well. I hope that given the level of the surplus we have at the moment, the Government can assist Domestic Violence Response Galway in its request.