Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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399. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on the urgency of commissioning a second sexual abuse and violence in Ireland report, into sexual abuse incidences, given than the previous report was 13 years ago and given the need to accurately target resources based on properly researched data [46222/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland Study (SAVI 1) was published in 2002 following telephone research in which over 3,000 adults were surveyed. This resulted in a "snapshot" of the nature and extent of sexual violence in Ireland. The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre have submitted a proposal to a number of Government Departments regarding the completion of a second such "snapshot" survey.

The costs of the proposed survey are considerable and my Department is currently considering the proposal. Considerations include the overall amount of funding available to my Department at any one time for research work, given the scale and duration of the investment required. In addition, the Department is considering whether and to what degree a repeat of this survey is the most effective use of funds to research both adult and child abuse survivors at this point. It is acknowledged that there is a need to take account of emerging issues and any research investment should be designed to meet with policy need and gaps in understanding and data. Finally, the question how a survey of this scale and cost would be commissioned in accordance with procurement and other rules will need to be considered.

I have been in discussions with my colleague the Minister for Justice on the matter and we are both anxious to work with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and other providers to determine data and research priorities in this areas. I have asked my officials to prepare a detailed review of the proposal in this context and having regard to the new National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence and the plans Tusla have in respective of the provision of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services.