Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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24. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action his Department is taking to ensure that victims of crime receive the highest standard of treatment and the necessary services and supports; the action that is being undertaken to further develop and improve the support services for victims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25237/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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When a victim engages with the justice system, they should know what to expect, be confident they will be treated respectfully and sensitively, know what their legally enforceable rights are and what supports are available at every step in the process.

My Department is leading a number of important initiatives to ensure we better support all victims of crime.

Central to this is 'Supporting a Victim's Journey' - our plan to implement the recommendations of the O'Malley Review. It is introducing important reforms to support and protect vulnerable victims and ensure our criminal justice system is more victim-centred.

A number of key actions have been delivered, including:

• The establishment of a course in University of Limerick to train intermediaries;
• Legislating for preliminary trial hearings;
• Undertaking a mapping exercise to identify gaps in services and supports provided for victims, both geographically and by service type, and the provision of increased funding to address them; and
• The first cohort of staff at a new sexual offences unit in the Director of Public Prosecutions took up their roles.

To further support victims, I am currently progressing legislative provisions which will;

• Strengthen the law on consent,
• Extend victim anonymity to further categories of victims,
• Repeal provisions for sentences to be delivered in public, and
• Make provision for legal representation for victims in certain cases.

Zero Tolerance, the Government’s Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), builds on the important reforms already introduced under Supporting a Victims Journey.

A key part of implementation of this ambitious whole of Government Strategy will be the establishment next year of the new Agency, which will ensure a permanent and dedicated focus on this important area of work.

In addition, my Department continues to provide funding to NGOs that support victims through emotional support, court accompaniment, and accompaniment to Garda interviews, to sexual assault treatment units and referral to other services. This year, an increased budget of €5.8 million is being made available.

We are also running a campaign to raise awareness of the rights provided in the Victims of Crime Act 2017 and in the Victims Charter, and last month we launched a new phase on TV and radio, with a particular emphasis on reaching minority and harder-to-reach communities.

In addition, my Department has established a Victim’s Forum for state, social and community groups to discuss how best we can work together to meet the needs of victims.