My Department provides funding to promote and assist the development of specific support services to victims of crime within the criminal justice system. The services that receive funding offer a wide range of support to people who become a victim of crime. Some of these organisations offer support to victims of any type of crime, such as the Crime Victims Helpline or Victim Support at Court, while others provide specialist services for victims of specific types of crime, such as AdViC or Support after Homicide, who work with families who have lost someone close to them as a result of a homicide.
These services provide important information and support such as emotional support, court accompaniment, and accompaniment to Garda interviews, to sexual assault treatment units and referral to other services.
While services that provide support of victims of domestic and sexual violence receive funding under the Victims of Crime fund, it is important to state that Tusla, the Child and Family Agency under the aegis of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and are the primary funders of organisations that deliver frontline services. Tusla is currently undertaking a review of its services.
In addition, some services for victims of sexual violence, such as Sexual Assault Treatment Units and counselling services fall under the remit of, and are funded by, the Department of Health.
A list of the organisations in receipt of funding from my Department made available to support victims of crime is set out below.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, my Department is currently implementing a program of reform in our criminal justice system to better support vulnerable victims through the implementation of Supporting a Victim’s Journey - our detailed and ambitious plan to implement the recommendations of the O'Malley Review. To date, a number of key actions have been delivered including:
- Legislating for the introduction of preliminary trial hearings;
- The nationwide rollout of Divisional Protective Services Units (DPSU);
- The first cohort of staff at new sexual offences unit in the Director of Public Prosecutions office formally took up their roles in April;
- Work to advance the training for all personnel who come into contact with vulnerable victims is underway;
- Funding for NGOs providing court accompaniment and related information and support services has been increased;
- A review of grants for organisations supporting victims has been undertaken to identify gaps in service provision;
- An improved Victims Charter website which provides a comprehensive repository of information for victims has been created;
- The University of Limerick has been commissioned by my Department to develop the framework for the operation and training of intermediaries and they will soon be engaging with stakeholders to develop this.
In addition, my Department has undertaken a review of the supports and funding of civil society organisations providing frontline services in order to identify where gaps may exist and how to bridge them. Specific geographical areas and categories of victims that are not adequately covered by NGO supports have been identified and my Department is engaging with relevant NGO partners to agree revised funding to ensure that we meet the gaps identified. This piece of work will be completed shortly.
This work is in addition to the audit of how domestic, sexual and gender-based violence policy and services are organised which was published by my Department in July. The recommendations of this audit, as well as the Tusla Review and the Supporting a Victim's Journey mapping exercise will play an important role in the development across Government of the Third National Strategy on DSGBV. This new strategy will place a priority on prevention and reduction and will include a National Preventative Strategy.
The new strategy will be published before the end of the year and will be the most ambitious to date.
Victims of crime organisations currently funded by Department of Justice:
Adapt Domestic Abuse Services (Limerick)
AdVIC
Amal Women's Association
AnyMan
Aoibhneas
Ascend
A.S.S.C.
Barnardos
Beacon of Light Counselling Centre
Bray Women's Refuge
CARI
Carlow Women's Aid
Clare Haven Services
Connect Family Resource Centre
Cope Galway Waterside House
Crime Victims Helpline
Cuan Saor Women's Refuge Ltd.
Dignity 4 Patients
Domestic Violence Advocacy Centre (Sligo)
Domestic Violence Response Galway
Donegal Women's Domestic Violence Service
Drogheda Women's Refuge and Children's Refuge Centre
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
Dundalk Counselling Service
Esker House Women's Refuge
Greystones Family Resource Centre
Hope Trust
Immigrant Council of Ireland
Kerry Women’s Refuge and Support Services (Adapt)
Kilkenny Women's Refuge Ltd (Amber)
Laois Domestic Abuse Service
Le Cheile
Letterkenny Women's Centre
Lifeline Inishoven
Living Life Voluntary Counselling Centre
Longford Women's Link
Meath Women's Refuge
Missing in Ireland Support Services
Mna Feasa Domestic Violence Project
Newpark Close Community Development Limited
OASIS HOUSE WOMEN'S Refuge
Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service
One in Four
OSS Cork
Rape Crisis Network
Roscommon Safe Link
Ruhama
SAFE Ireland
Sage Advocacy
Samaritans of Kilkenny and Carlow
Samaritans Newbridge & Kildare
Saoirse Housing Association
Sexual Violence Centre Cork formerly known as Cork Rape Crisis Service.
Support After Crime
Support After Homicide
Teach Tearmainn Housing Association Company Ltd.
Tearmann Housing Association
Victim Support at Court
West Cork Women’s Project
Westmeath Support Service against Domestic Abuse
Wexford Women's Refuge
Women's Aid Dublin
Women's Aid Dundalk
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