Written answers

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Departmental Funding

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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354. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding and the number of organisations receiving funding to support victims of physical or sexual abuse allocated in 2015; and the funding to be provided in budget 2016 for 2016. [40644/15]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence whether in the context of the family or otherwise.

In 2015, Tusla will have provided over €19 million euro in funding to the provision of domestic and sexual violence services. This funding is allocated to specialist organisations responding to sexual violence and domestic violence and this amount includes the funding of 60 domestic and sexual violence services throughout the country comprising:

- Over €15m for 44 organisations providing domestic violence support services, including 20 emergency refuges;

- €4m for 16 rape crisis centres.

Future planning for domestic violence and sexual violence services will seek to address gaps, avoid duplication and support effective delivery of front-line services nationally. Developments for domestic and sexual violence services in Ireland will be considered as part of Tusla’s future commissioning processes.

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 provided to services for victims of physical or sexual abuse will be considered by Tusla in developing its Business Plan for 2016, which will be sent to me for consideration.

Tusla will communicate with individual funded organisations about funding arrangements for 2016 at the earliest opportunity.

The Government, since its establishment, has attached particular priority to supporting vulnerable children and families and the significant increase in funding being made available to Tusla next year represents further evidence of our delivery on this ambition.

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

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