Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

29. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the One in Four annual report released on 7 October 2015; his views on the resources needed to respond to child sex abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35513/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to acknowledge the work done by One in Four and very much respect the views contained in its Annual Report for 2014. I share One in Four's vision of working towards a society where children are free from sexual violence.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of sexual violence. In terms of financial resources, Tusla is spending almost €4.0mthis year on specialist sexual violence services, with funding maintained at 2014 levels. I have consistently emphasised to Tusla that I want to see frontline services protected and this is the approach that is being adopted.

Sexual violence services are being developed by Tusla as a national specialist service in order to achieve greater co-ordination of responses to both adult and child victims of sexual violence across all relevant services. The ultimate goal is to enable better outcomes for those who have experienced sexual violence.

Tusla is focused on addressing factors that prevent incidents of sexual violence and on dealing with the impact of these crimes on the women, men and children affected. It is progressing a range of reforms to deliver a consistently high standard of response to survivors of historical sexual abuse.

Tusla has mechanisms in place for individuals to make formal complaints as well as seeking reviews. It is vital that the feedback and complaints are made formally to Tusla to ensure that it can drive the reforms it is undertaking in relation to retrospective allegations of abuse.

As the Deputy will be aware, I announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for next year. Tusla will have available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015.

The precise level of funding to be allocated to the sexual violence services will be determined by Tusla in preparing its Business Plan, which will be sent to me for consideration.

I would like to assure the Deputy that I and Tusla will continue to support the provision of services for victims of sexual abuse. Developing a stronger, more effective and responsive child protection services has been a key priority for me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.