Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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181. To ask the Minister for Health if he will support and facilitate the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in conducting a second sexual abuse and violence in Ireland study. [33761/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am supportive, in principle, of follow up research into this important issue. However, I am not in a position to contribute to the funding of this study. My Department's policy role in relation to sexual abuse and violence has been much reduced since the original study was undertaken. The setting up of the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (COSC), under the auspices of the Department of Justice and Equality saw Government delegate explicit whole-of-government co-ordination to this Office. More recently, responsibility for child protection, rape crisis services and refugees transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

In the circumstances, I consider that decision making, funding and oversight for the proposed study should be determined by the Department of Justice and Equality/COSC. In so far as wider input is justified, this might have regard to the responsibility of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for important matters formerly falling within this Department's remit.