From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Progress includes:
Frontline services combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence received funding of €25.3 million in 2019 to support their services, according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone TD.
A €1.5 million increase was provided on the 2018 funding to allow for a number of new initiatives.
Minister Zappone confirmed that progress has been made in a number of areas, including:
Welcoming the progress made to support and enhance domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services, Minister Zappone said:
“As Minister I have seen at first hand the invaluable work of frontline agencies supporting women and children targeted by domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Since I became Minister, I have secured year-on-year increases in funding for Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) services. The additional investment in these services this year facilitates better access and the provision of enhanced supports and services to victims."
The provision of once-off funding is also enhancing services in alignment with obligations under the Istanbul Convention, including:
Continuing, Minister Zappone said:
“A whole of government response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is required to ensure the delivery of co-ordinated services. Tusla is responsible for the provision of services and supports to victims of domestic and sexual violence. A number of other government departments and State agencies, including the Departments of Justice and Equality and Housing, Planning and Local Government, have a key role to play in ensuring holistic services are provided to victims of domestic and sexual violence."
ENDS
In 2019, funding of €25.3 million is being allocated to frontline services combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, an increase of €1.5 million over 2018.
In April 2019, the Minister announced that the additional funding would allow for:
Progress includes:
(1) Increase in funding to sexual violence services
The 16 Rape Crisis Centres have received increases in funding and have agreed commitments in terms of additional service provision.
(2) Outreach workers
Considerable progress has been made to recruit additional outreach workers:
(3) Healing programmes for children
The national co-ordination of children’s programmes is being hosted by Barnardos. To date, this year 8 children’s programmes (programmes range in size with approximately 5 to 10 children participating) have been delivered in 7 Tusla areas and planning is on-going to deliver children’s programmes in the remaining 10 Tusla areas by year end.
Data will be collected to gather evidence on the effectiveness of programmes which are being rolled out for children.
(4) Opening of a new refuge in South Dublin
The refurbishment of the building to provide refuge accommodation in Rathcoole, South Dublin will be completed by end October. The recruitment of staff for the refuge is underway and services are expected to be operational by year end.
The opening of this new refuge will provide additional domestic violence accommodation capacity (five units of emergency refuge family accommodation, which can accommodate up to five adults and 15 children).
(5) Strategic reviews of domestic violence accommodation in Dublin and nationally
The accommodation reviews are ongoing. The substantive work of the reviews will be completed by the end of 2019.
(6) Once-off funding in 2019
Once-off funding in 2019 is being used to support and enhance services in alignment with obligations under the Istanbul Convention.
The additional funding will also be used to:
(1) By early intervention which may prevent the need for emergency refuge accommodation
(2) Support when they leave emergency refuge accommodation, in Dublin, the South West, West and Midlands (€30,000)