Written answers

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Department of Justice and Equality

Domestic Violence Services

Photo of Sorca ClarkeSorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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329. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the additional resources provided to the services working with those experiencing domestic abuse in counties Longford and Westmeath during Covid-19. [13593/20]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that combatting domestic abuse is a priority for me and my Department. It is also an important aspect of the National Strategy for Women and Girls and the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.

At an early stage in the Covid-19 pandemic and in recognition of the added risk of domestic abuse which some people face in that context, my Department developed an inter-agency plan to address domestic abuse during this pandemic. An Garda Síochána too confirmed that it continued to attach the highest priority to domestic abuse incidents during the pandemic, including through ‘Operation Faoiseamh’, a proactive initiative designed to ensure victims of domestic abuse are supported and protected throughout the period.

As part of this inter-agency plan and in addition to the funding already allocated for 2020, my Department has to date provided an additional €285,000 to organisations in the sector, to support and extend the existing services they offer, during the period of the Covid-19 crisis.

The additional funding provided to date in this way consists of the following:

- Women’s Aid: €63,000 for additional resources to extend the Support and Referral Service and the High Risk Support project;

- Rape Crisis Centre Network Ireland: €50,000 to support the work of local centres and to manage information on advice and guidance for frontline trauma support workers;

- Ruhama: €14,000 for additional support packs for women seeking to exit prostitution;

- Men’s Development Network: up to €39,340 for an extension of the Male Advice line and extra telephone support for the Men Ending Domestic Violence programme;

- Safe Ireland: €36,000 for additional personnel capacity and communicating with their service users;

- Move Ireland: €33,000 for additional helpline and counselling support for perpetrators;

- Rape Crisis Centre Forum: €50,000 for local awareness-raising campaigns and for development of a package of revised service processes, standards and procedures, including adaptations to new ways of working arising from pandemic.

Other actions under the plan aimed at ensuring that domestic abuse and sexual violence continue to receive the highest priority from the civil and criminal justice system. This includes priority by the Legal Aid Board and Courts Service for domestic abuse cases, and availability of a Legal Aid Board helpline to ensure that persons experiencing domestic violence issues get prompt legal advice and legal representation in court where needed.

I understand that Tusla has also put a range of practical supports in place including funding, identification of additional accommodation capacity, and provision of additional ICT resources.

You may also wish to note that the former Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection recently announced that rent supplement would be made available on a short-term basis to victims of domestic abuse, referred via Tusla-funded domestic abuse service providers, with these arrangements to be reviewed after six months of operation.

Finally, the Deputy may be interested to know that my Department is also leading a public awareness campaign on domestic abuse during the Covid-19 crisis, in partnership with frontline services in the community and voluntary sector. Further information on the organisations involved in this initiative as well as services and supports for victims is available on the website www.stillhere.ie.

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