Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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925. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to ring-fence domestic and sexual violence funds within Tusla. [12922/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence whether in the context of the family or otherwise. At all times, Tusla’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence are being met in the best way possible.

A network of 60 organisations provide services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Ireland, including 20 services providing emergency refuge accommodation to women and children, 24 community-based domestic violence services and 16 Rape Crisis Centres providing services to victims of sexual violence.

The Agency has established a more co-ordinated approach for provision of these services with a dedicated national budget of €20.6m in 2016. This includes an additional €200,000 to support implementation of obligations under the Istanbul Convention.

In 2015, particular priority was given to protecting frontline services, and in that context, funding for services for victims of domestic and sexual violence survivors was protected. Continuing with this commitment, in 2016, funding to domestic violence services has been protected at the same level as 2015 overall, with some additional provision for emergency accommodation in the greater Dublin area for an extra eight family units of emergency accommodation and also enhanced access to community based outreach services for victims. Similarly, in 2016, funding for the 16 Rape Crisis Centres has also been protected at 2015 levels.

I would like to assure the Deputy that Tusla will continue to support the provision of services for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Tusla is committed to addressing identified gaps in service provision, eliminating duplication where it exists and ensuring the provision of a more equitable service. Developing stronger, more effective and responsive services will continue to be a key priority for me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

Tusla will continue to consider the needs of those who experience domestic violence and sexual violence as part of its planning processes, in order to ensure that appropriate responses are in place and that resources are used to achieve the best outcomes for individuals, children and families.