Seanad debates
Wednesday, 21 June 2023
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Domestic Violence
10:30 am
Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Deputy James Browne.
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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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.
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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.
Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for the comprehensive response from the Department. I welcome the news that there is engagement in the Department with Domestic Violence Response Galway and other services around the country. I also welcome the news that Tusla is happy to engage with Domestic Violence Response Galway regarding funding. I certainly hope that in advance of budget negotiations, there can be an increased level of funding provided in 2024 and possibly additional funding for 2023 as well because, as I said, Domestic Violence Response Galway provides an important and vital service. Unfortunately, there is an increasing need for its services. We wish that was not the case but that is the way things are. We certainly need to ensure that victims of domestic violence get all the support and advocacy they need. To do that, they need groups such as Domestic Violence Response Galway.
James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I again thank the Senator for raising this important matter and for his engagement with the Department and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on this issue. I acknowledge the excellent work being undertaken by with Domestic Violence Response Galway, which is appreciated.
As the Senator will be aware, and in line with a key recommendation of the audit of responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, the Government has agreed to establish a dedicated statutory agency that will be charged with co-ordinating the Government's response to this important area. The establishment of this new agency is a priority action for delivery under the third national strategy and will be operational by early next year. The new agency will be tasked with ensuring the delivery of excellent service to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and with driving and co-ordinating the implementation of the third national strategy across the Government. It will bring the dedicated and expert focus that is needed to tackle this serious and complex issue.