Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the estimated number of women who experience physical abuse here today; the State funding that is targeted at this problem; the range of services that are available nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45157/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Empirical data on which one can rely in relation to this serious issue is difficult to obtain. According to the National Study of Domestic Abuse published by the National Crime Council in 2005, 13% of women, who participated in the study, reported suffering physical abuse or minor physical incidents at some stage or on some occasion over the course of their lifetime.

The bulk of direct funding in relation to domestic violence service provision is provided by the Health Service Executive which funds the core work of non-governmental organisations' support services in this sector. In addition the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government provides funding through the local authorities for the capital and maintenance costs of women's refuges and other crisis accommodation. The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs also has domestic violence-related expenditure under its Community Development Programme.

In 2008 the HSE spent approximately €20m. on domestic violence-related services. The same year the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government spent €2,188,294 on such services and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs spent €204,894.

The direct funding of €2,261,000 by my Department in 2008 relates to activities such as awareness raising by support services at local level and perpetrator intervention programmes. The Deputy should note that, although such funding includes funding in relation to sexual violence services, in 2008 most of the funding related to domestic violence, which may of course include sexual violence occurring in the domestic context. In addition, the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime, which is under the aegis of my Department, provides funding to domestic violence groups for court accompaniment, and granted €416,625 for this purpose in 2008. The Deputy will be aware that there is also other significant expenditure, supporting activity in the wider Justice sector which contributes to preventing or dealing with the consequences of domestic violence, but which cannot be quantified.

A wide range of services are available to women victims of domestic violence. In addition to the services provided by State agencies such as the Garda Síochána and the HSE, there are 19 support services providing crisis/emergency accommodation at refuge facilities. Other supports provided at these facilities include counselling; court accompaniment; advocacy; telephone helpline; outreach; and referrals to other appropriate services. A further 28 support services provide non-refuge support, information and advocacy for women victims of domestic violence.

The Deputy may also be aware that Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, was established within my Department in June, 2007. Cosc's remit is to provide a whole-of-Government response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in relation to women and men, including older people living in the community. Cosc's main priority is the drafting of a National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which is expected to be submitted to Government early in 2010. The Strategy will set out a cohesive plan to further develop actions to prevent and respond to this violence.