Written answers

Wednesday, 16 June 2021

Department of Justice and Equality

Departmental Reports

Photo of Mary Lou McDonaldMary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will publish the finalised audit report of the existing structures into the segmentation of domestic sexual and gender-based violence across different Government agencies; and if the final audit report and recommendations have been made available to the relevant stakeholders. [32237/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to conducting an audit of how responsibility for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) is segmented across different government agencies and this important commitment is reiterated in Justice Plan 2021.

The audit has been undertaken by external consultants Mary Higgins and Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop in consultation with relevant NGOs and service providers, as well as input from Departments and agencies. The consultants were, as part of their work, also required to take account of the views of those working at the frontline.

A draft report has been prepared and was recently submitted to both the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and to the Department of Justice and it has now been finalised and provided to me this week. I will discuss its recommendations with my colleague, Minister O’Gorman shortly.

The audit outcome, together with the ongoing work of implementing Supporting a Victim's Journey, the current review of accommodation needs undertaken by Tusla, and the development of the next National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, will provide us with valuable guidance for designing our systems to best meet the needs of victims of DSGBV and improve how we do this in the longer-term.

Tackling domestic abuse and ensuring we have the best possible infrastructure to support victims is a priority for me as Minister and for Government. I am working with my colleagues and with our partners to ensure we have an appropriate collective national response that supports victims and holds perpetrators to account.

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