Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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296. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of additional ring-fenced funding to be provided to domestic violence services under budget 2021 in order that services can respond adequately to increased incidence of domestic violence through Covid-19 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37134/20]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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297. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the additional ring-fenced funding to be provided by his Department to domestic violence services in budget 2021 in order that services can respond adequately to the shadow pandemic of domestic violence through Covid-19 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36348/20]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together.

The provision of appropriate supports to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based violence is a key priority for Government and is clearly articulated as such in the Programme for Government.  The Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Services has been receiving updates on the inter-agency plan which was specifically developed to address the increased risk of domestic abuse in the context of Covid-19 restrictions.  This plan includes, amongst other initiatives, the establishment of Operation Faoiseamh by An Garda Siochána to proactively call back on victims who had previously reported incidents of domestic violence, the launch of a Department of Justice led public awareness campaign on domestic abuse during lockdown, and increased funding for inter-agency supports this year.  

Although the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not have a direct role in relation to the provision of domestic violence services, funding for this issue was also prioritised in the recent Budget 2021 discussions with my Cabinet colleagues. 

Budget 2021 provides for €17.4 billion in additional public expenditure across all Government Departments.   An extra €2.7 million over and above existing funding levels was allocated to the Department of Justice and Equality to combat domestic, sexual and gender based violence, in addition to Budget 2021 funding for domestic violence services provided through other Government Departments and Agencies.  I have noted that other Government Departments and Ministers will be replying directly with further information concerning the funding which their respective Departments are allocating towards services to address domestic violence.