Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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73. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide a detailed breakdown of domestic violence funding for his Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50611/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 73 together.

Tackling Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) is an absolute priority for me as Minister for Justice. This includes focusing on prevention and on providing victim-centred supports and services.

I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat DSGBV. The goal is clear: zero tolerance in Irish society for any form of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

As I am sure the Deputy is aware, following an independent audit of responsibility for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, it was agreed that responsibility for service provision, as well as for policy, should sit together under the remit of my Department. Government also agreed to establish a new statutory agency which will be operation in 2024 and which will ensure this priority area continues to receive the expertise and focus needed to drive it forward.

Under Budget 2023 I was able to secure an extra €9 million for 2023, a 22% increase, for combatting domestic, sexual and gender based violence. This will also support the implementation of the Zero Tolerance plan.

This €9 million includes increased funding of €7 million for organisations funded by TUSLA to address acute service demands in existing services throughout the country, and for investment in new services as outlined in Zero Tolerance. This funding also strengthens the nationwide supports, and will help to maintain the momentum in implementing the ambitious goals set out in the national strategy.

In total, Tusla has been allocated €37 million for funding DSGBV services which includes the additional €7 million in funding I was able to secure. Separate to the funding of DSGBV services, my own Department has allocated €6.09 million for measures to tackle DSGBV, including through awareness raising campaigns and funding for perpetrator programmes.

Mt Department has allocated a further €5.8 million for providing funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system, which of course includes victims of domestic and sexual crime.

As part of the MOU covering the transition of DSGBV Services to the new DSGBV agency, my Department, Tusla and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will be identifying key priorities for the additional €7m allocated to Tusla to maintain the existing service level, to address acute demands and for new services. This will be based on engagement with the DSGBV sector and priorities set out in the third national strategy.

Tusla will be engaging with funded DSGBV organisations on service and funding agreements for 2023 over the coming weeks. Specific funding to individual organisations will be agreed as part of that process and further information on how money is allocated will be available after that process has finished.