Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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354. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views that in 2014 there were 16,464 incidents of domestic violence against women disclosed to Women's Aid direct services, involving 10,653 incidents of emotional abuse, 2,470 incidents of physical abuse and 1,746 instances of financial abuse disclosed, as well as 595 incidents of sexual abuse and 176 rapes, the action he will take to publicise this information and raise awareness regarding the need for action to be taken by adequately supporting Women's Aid, which continues to rely on private funding as a key source of keeping its services open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45399/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is the statutory body with responsibility for the provision of domestic, sexual violence and gender-based violence services. The Agency’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims are met in the best way possible. Accordingly, in 2015, a dedicated national budget of €19.5m has been directed towards protecting front-line services for survivors.

Women's Aid receives a significant level of State funding. In 2015, Tusla has allocated funding of €645,000 to Women’s Aid to maintain current frontline service provision, including the development of the Women’s Aid national domestic violence helpline. Women’s Aid has also received funding from other government sources for services. This includes €158,000 over a two year period from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government; in 2015, the Department of Justice and Equality provided €55,000 via the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (Cosc) and €78,000 via the Victims of Crime Office. Each year, Women's Aid publishes an annual report which is publicly available on its website.

As the Deputy will be aware, I announced a significant increase in the overall funding allocation to Tusla for 2016. Tusla will have available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015. The 2016 allocation includes funding of €200,000 to implement the Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence.

The increase in funding will significantly strengthen Tusla's base funding level and also gives the Agency greater capacity to respond to current risk and anticipated demand in 2016.

The precise level of funding to be provided to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services is being considered by Tusla in developing its Business Plan for 2016, which will be sent to me shortly, for consideration.

Tusla recognises the valuable work of Women’s Aid, and other organisations providing services in the area of domestic and sexual violence and is committed to the development of these services in line with its statutory remit. In planning for the future provision and development of services, Tusla is committed to continuing to work in partnership with Women’s Aid and the wider domestic violence services sector into the future to address identified gaps in service provision, eliminate duplication where it exists and to ensure the provision of equitable services.