Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

311. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of sexual assaults reported in Irish hospitals in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [18810/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based is a priority for this Government. It is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in our Budget allocations.

Our new Zero Tolerance Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy is the most ambitious to date. It was co-designed with the sector and fully recognises the need for a whole of government, whole of society, approach to tackling all forms of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.

The actions within it reflect the importance of a range of areas, including education, training, awareness raising, supports, robust legislation and importantly, having a victim centred approach to all of our work in this priority area.

We are committed to delivering on the goal of this strategy - a society that does not accept any form of sexual violence.

On the specifics of the Deputy's question, I requested information from An Garda Síochána in relation to the number of sexual assaults reported to them as having occurred in a hospital.

I have been informed by Garda authorities that a search of PULSE was conducted for incidents and the figures returned by An Garda Síochána are set out in the table below to which I am advised that crime counting rules have been applied.

An Garda Síochána have also advised that data is as available on the PULSE database on the morning of 20 April 2023, and is subject to change.