Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an outreach worker has been appointed to a refuge (details supplied) to specifically deal with County Carlow; and if so, when this post will be commenced. [21848/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the provision of care and protection to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV).

As the Deputy will be aware, I secured an additional €1.5m in funding for DSGBV services in 2019.

On Thursday 25 April, 2019, I announced that the additional €1.5 million in funding will be used to provide:

- A 10% increase in funding to sexual violence services.

- 12 new outreach workers for women and children affected by domestic violence to improve access to support services.

- National roll out of a 12 week healing programme for children who have been impacted by domestic abuse, which also helps parents/guardians to understand their child’s experiences and support their recovery.

- Opening in the Autumn of a new refuge in South Dublin.

- A specific initiative to reduce the waiting times for counselling for victims of sexual violence.

Tusla is responsible for the allocation and administration of funding to DSGBV services. Over the coming weeks, Tusla will work to implement the decisions made in relation to additional funding in 2019. I have asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to service provision in County Carlow.