James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Kyne for raising this very important matter around the domestic violence response in Galway. I know the Senator has been raising this issue consistently with the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. I am aware that Domestic Violence Response Galway provides ongoing specialist support to victims of domestic abuse and has been delivering advocacy services since 2000 in Galway city and county. I acknowledge the work it does to support victims who are generally a vulnerable cohort and who require additional supports to navigate the criminal justice system. The supports provided include advocacy accompaniment and preparation for court, including the criminal and family law courts. It also provides specific and targeted supports for women and children, such as emotional support using a trauma-informed response and on-site assistance in its office.

As the Senator is aware, the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on domestic sexual and gender-based violence. This agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex social issue.

Pending the establishment of the agency, responsibility for domestic violence services continues to be managed by Tusla. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has raised the question of funding with Tusla. Tusla understands, from recent engagement with Domestic Violence Response Galway, that it had a funding arrangement with the HSE that was designated as non-recurring and was due to end in quarter 1 of 2023. Earlier this year, Tusla allocated additional funding of €44,045 to support Domestic Violence Response Galway services, increasing its core funding to €181,527 in 2023. Tusla is happy to engage further with domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services on service developments beyond the current funding year. Tusla will give due consideration to any business case it receives from organisations regarding further service development.

Separately, I am advised that Domestic Violence Response Galway is one of two groups that applied for funding for full-time court accompaniment workers for County Galway under the Department of Justice’s victims of crime funding.Officials met with the two groups recently and asked that they might agree first how they would provide a cohesive service without unnecessary overlaps in the county and then come back to the Department. I understand that both groups expressed an openness to doing that and the Department is waiting for the response.

The Department of Justice has pledged €22,050 under the victims of crime funding scheme to Domestic Violence Response Galway this year and some 18% of that funding has been drawn down to date.