Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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181. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to ensure that child victims of crime have immediate access to adequate, free and confidential supports services. [20326/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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A range of Government Departments and Agencies, including for example, An Garda Síochána, Tusla, the HSE, the Courts Service and my Department in tandem with non Government organisations all currently provide a range of support services for child victims of crime.

Insofar as my remit is concerned my Department provides funding support, through its Victims of Crime Office, to services supporting child victims of crime in areas such as court accompaniment, accompaniment to specialist children and adolescent sexual assault treatment services and for bereavement counselling. I am pleased that I have been able to continue to secure an increased funding allocation for this office in recent years to further develop these services.

In tandem with this, a range of special measures and supports can be availed of by child victims of crime in relation to criminal proceedings. This includes, for example, in the Garda interviewing of child victims and in the presentation of evidence by such victims in the court process.

In further strengthening assistance in this policy area, the implementation of the European Union Directive 2012/29/EU, which is known as the Victims Directive, which is currently being transposed into Irish law by the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016, will further extend and enhance the level of supports being provided to child victims of crime.

In particular, in recognising that child victims of crime are particularly vulnerable, specific provisions are included in the Bill catering for additional rights and supports to be made available to such victims within the criminal justice setting.

The enactment of this legislation remains a priority for me and I look forward to the full support of the Oireachtas in its progression as expeditiously as possible.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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182. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider establishing a children's house model providing multidisciplinary services to children in one location including social services, police and forensic medical experts to support and treat child victims of crime. [20329/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware that models of multi disciplinary one stop shop type services based in one location known as a children's house model operate in other jurisdictions as a means of supporting child victims of crime and their families.

Currently in Ireland a range of Government Departments and Agencies, including for example, An Garda Síochána, the Courts Service, Tusla and the HSE, in tandem with non Government organisations provide a range of services and supports to child victims of crime.

Existing legislation and practice in Ireland already provides for a range of special measures for child victims of crime within the criminal justice sphere, for example, in the area of Garda interviewing of child victims and in the presentation of evidence by such victims in court proceedings.

In further strengthening the responses and support to child victims of crime the Deputy will appreciate my priority at present is the effective implementation of the EU Directive 2012/29/EU which is known as the EU Victims Directive. This Directive establishes minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime across the European Union. Child victims of crime are to be considered and treated as full bearers of the rights set out in the Directive and implementation of the measures - which include particular protection measures for children during criminal proceedings - will enhance the level of supports being provided to such victims.

As the Deputy may be aware the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Bill 2016 which was published on 29 December, 2016 and is due to be progressed through Committee Stage in the Dáil shortly will transpose into Irish law the EU Victims Directive. The introduction of this legislation also fulfils a commitment in the Programme for Government to enact legislation to strengthen the rights of victims of crime and their families. In tandem with this, and pending the enactment of the legislation, all of the criminal justice agencies have been working to ensure that the measures contained in the EU Victims Directive have been put in place on an administrative basis since it came into effect in November 2015.

Finally I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that the Victims Bill provides that highest level of protection possible for all victims of crime, and particularly those who have the greatest need for protection such as child victims. In this regard child victims benefit from all of the rights provided under the Bill and specific provision is being made for a range of additional rights which will strengthen the supports available to child victims of crime.

I will keep the question of the establishment of the children's house model under review.