Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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345. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions she will take to address the rising levels of domestic violence in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42421/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to assure the deputy that tackling domestic abuse and providing structures that meet the needs of victims in the most appropriate and comprehensive way to ensure a cohesive national response is the collective aim of the Government and is a priority for me as Minister for Justice.

With regard to the Deputy's specific query in relation to measures taken to combat domestic abuse in Co. Longford, I would emphasise that our cross sector approach to addressing domestic abuse is an all-encompassing national approach.

I am acutely aware of the increase, particularly in domestic abuse incidents which is evident in figures reported by frontline services, An Garda Síochána, the courts and by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Our collective prioritising in providing additional resources during the pandemic was to ensure we have a comprehensive and holistic approach to the provision of services for victims of domestic abuse in a time of unprecedented demand.

My department ensured that additional resources, support, enforcement and services were made available to key organisations in this area. This support is maintained and increased in budget 2021. I can assure the Deputy that domestic abuse was of primary consideration in the context of the move to level 5 in the National Framework for Living with Covid-19.

To expand and improve how we deliver services, the Programme for Government commits to an audit of how responsibility for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) is segmented across different government agencies.

The terms of reference for the audit have been finalised, and a procurement process to engage an independent person to undertake the audit has commenced with details available on my Department's website.

The Deputy may also be aware that, over the last decade, work in this area has been conducted through successive DSGBV strategies. My Department coordinates the Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Abuse 2016-2021, which is a whole-of-Government approach to delivering on the many actions necessary to address these matters fully.

The Strategy includes input from relevant community and voluntary groups as well as other stakeholders across the sector. This is achieved through a Monitoring Committee composed of stakeholders from all sectors working together in partnership; as well as ongoing cooperation between the Department and frontline services and industry partners.

Overall, the Strategy aims to considerably strengthen the law and structures in Ireland targeting domestic, sexual and gender-based abuse and considerable progress has been made in addressing these issues through the Strategy.

Without prejudice to the outcome of the audit, a review of the outstanding actions has been conducted to inform the forthcoming 3rd National Strategy on DSGBV, to be developed and agreed by Government before the end of 2021.

Raising public awareness on these issues is a key feature of our overarching response in this area and my Department is currently midway through the No Excuses campaign, a national awareness campaign to tackle domestic and sexual abuse and sexual harassment. The campaign is a key action of the second national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based abuse for 2016 to 2021. The overall aim of the campaign is to make all of us face up to the excuses we, as a society, make for unacceptable behaviours and to call on us to speak out against them. This will contribute to a change in society's attitude to sexual harassment, domestic and sexual abuse in order to decrease and prevent this type of behaviour.

In relation to funding, in 2020 my Department committed almost €1.9 million to support services for victims of crime, including victims of sexual and gender based violence. These services provide important information and support to victims of crime, including emotional support, court accompaniment, accompaniment to Garda interviews and to sexual assault treatment units, counselling and referral to other services. I have secured €4.104 million under Budget 2021 to continue supporting these services. I have also secured €3 million in Budget 2021 for raising awareness of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

These figures reflect the additional €2.3 million provided in Budget 2021 to support the implementation of the O'Malley review which will support vulnerable victims, including victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

‘Supporting a Victims Journey’will be implemented as a priority and it includes the provision of specific training for all of the key personnel a victim comes into contact with during the course of their journey throughout the criminal justice system. Such personnel includes the Gardaí, the DPP, the judiciary and the legal profession.

The Deputy may also be interested to know that the rollout of the Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSU) within An Garda Síochána is now complete with DPSUs in every Garda division across the country. I am aware that Longford/Roscommon launched its DPSU on 21 September, 2020. The completion of the rollout of DPSUs means that specially trained officers are available nationwide who will be responsible for engagement with, and interviewing of, vulnerable victims. This will ensure that when vulnerable victims of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual abuse present to Gardaí, they are met with a consistently high standard of specialist professional and sensitive expert assistance.

I want to reassure the Deputy, but more importantly to reassure anyone who is a victim, or at risk of domestic abuse, that help continues to be available and to contact An Garda Síochána.