Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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164. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will address the funding crisis affecting domestic abuse services, including the County Laois domestic abuse service. [7691/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In 2014, €17m in funding was provided by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) by way of grant aid to 62 specialist Domestic Violence & Sexual Violence services. These include:

- 16 Rape Crisis Centres/Sexual Violence services

- 44 Domestic Violence services (including 20 Refuges)

- 2 National Networks

In addition, funding of €2.54m has transferred to my Department's 2015 Vote from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, and in turn to Tusla. This funding was previously distributed under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988 and is for domestic violence refuge services.The purpose of this funding transfer is to ensure that the State’s relationship with the domestic violence services is managed in a manner which is more coherent and adapted to the needs of service users i.e. victims of domestic violence.

In 2014 Tusla funded specialist domestic violence services in Co. Laois provided by Laois Domestic Abuse Services. The service received €64,900 in funding from Tusla last year.

The service involves the provision of domestic violence supports, including information, advocacy and counselling services to women experiencing or who have experienced domestic violence.

The work of Laois Domestic Abuse Services and other community-based domestic violence services is recognised and valued.

Tusla has recently completed an initial review of domestic violence and sexual violence services in order to identify strategic priorities and set out a Tusla roadmap for sexual violence and domestic violence services. There is for the first time a consolidated national budget for sexual violence and domestic violence services and an opportunity for more co-ordinated and equitable provision of violence and domestic violence services across the country.

Tusla will be communicating with funded services shortly to advise on the Tusla budget and funding for 2015. Individual domestic violence service provider organisations, including Laois Domestic Abuse Service, will be contacted about their specific funding and service arrangements for the current year.

Future planning for domestic violence and sexual violence services will seek to address gaps, avoid duplication and support effective delivery of frontline services nationally. Developments for domestic violence services in Co. Laois will be considered as part of Tusla’s future commissioning process.