As the Deputy will be aware, Tusla has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence. As such, the relevant Minister in terms of the core funding of domestic violence services is the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, by virtue of her responsibility for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which funds those services.
I understand that Tusla has provided €25.3 million for services for victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence in 2019.
In addition, my Department has provided funding to promote and assist the development of support services to victims of crime.
Such services continue to provide important information and support to victims of crime, including emotional support, court accompaniment, accompaniment to Garda interviews, accompaniment to sexual assault treatment units, counselling and referral to other services.
The funding allocated under this scheme to relevant agencies in County Louth working with victims of domestic abuse for each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, is provided in the following table.
Organisation
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
Women's Aid Dundalk
|
€18,000
|
€17,500
|
€17,500
|
€17,500
|
Drogheda Women's Refuge and Children’s Refuge Centre
|
€10,000
|
€11,500
|
€11,500
|
€11,500
|