Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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397. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the significant increase in the demand for its services, if he will review the recent cuts to the funding of the rape crisis centres of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25052/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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With effect from its establishment on 1 January 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has taken on statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence.

This year, Tusla will spend over €19m in supporting:

- 44 Domestic Violence services

- 16 Sexual Violence/Rape Crisis services

Tusla, has a total budget of €643 million in 2015, including €631 million in current funding, and €12 million in capital. This represents an increase of €34 million, or 5.6%, on funding provided to Tusla in Budget 2014.

This funding increase demonstrates that, despite the budgetary constraints, this Government remains strongly committed to delivering the critically important resources and reforms needed to support Ireland’s children and families. This additional funding is helping to drive key priorities in the reform of services, and is assisting the Agency to deliver on its mandate from Government.

Sexual violence services are being developed by Tusla, as a national specialist service, so as to enable better outcomes for both children and adults who are survivors of sexual violence.

In this regard, Tusla has appointed a national manager to ensure a single line of accountability for all resources in this important area.

In addition, Tusla is currently in the process of recruiting eight additional staff to ensure that domestic, sexual and gender based violence services are further developed.

In my discussions this year with Tusla, regarding service delivery, I asked that particular priority be given to protecting frontline services. In this context, I am pleased that funding for the 16 Rape Crisis Centres nationwide which provide services directly to rape survivors has been protected in 2015, with funding of almost €4m allocated to them.

The Deputy may be referring to funding for the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI). Tusla undertook a comprehensive review of sexual violence and domestic violence services with the purpose of identifying strategic priorities and setting out a roadmap for the delivery of these services. Following this review Tusla identified that there was scope for a more co-ordinated and more equitable provision of these services across the country. In reviewing the make-up of current services, Tusla is seeking to address any identified gaps in services, to avoid duplication and to support effective delivery of frontline services nationally.

The specific funding provided for RCNI by Tusla was to develop and maintain a database of information recorded by workers in Rape Crisis Centres. Tusla had concerns that this database did not capture information from all 16 Rape Crisis Centres as only 11 centres are affiliated with the Network.

In addition, Tusla did not always have timely access to the data collected, which is essential to support the delivery of high quality services across both the domestic violence and sexual violence services sector.

It was in this context that Tusla took the decision to cease funding of the RCNI and to take on direct responsibility for the development and maintenance of a database of information recorded on behalf of the Rape Crisis Centres.

Tusla has taken the decision to put in place a comprehensive data system that best meets the current and future data needs of a developing service. In order to plan properly for the future, Tusla needs access to complete and reliable information.

I would just like to reiterate that funding for the 16 Rape Crisis Centres nationwide which provide services directly to rape survivors has been protected in 2015.