Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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439. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to put in place a 24-7 nationwide support service for male victims of domestic abuse; the extent of future funding planned for this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42163/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The response to Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV) is a cross Departmental and multi-agency issue. Policy is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality (DJE). Under the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of DSGBV.

The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government sets out a number of commitments regarding DSGBV, including an audit on segmentation of DSGBV responsibilities across government departments and agencies, which will inform future investments in this area.

Tusla currently allocates funding to two organisations that provide dedicated services for male victims of domestic abuse. The Men’s Development Network and Men’s Aid Ireland both offer a range of services to support male victims. I have asked Tusla to respond to you directly on this matter, as the commissioning of DSGBV services is an operational matter for that organisation.