22 February 2007

Justice

National Domestic Violence Agency

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency can expect to receive the conclusions of his Department's internal evaluation of the pilot project; if the project will receive multi-annual funding, if the conclusions are positive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice, Equality, and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

I can inform the Deputy that the final report of the completed pilot project by the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency (NDVIA) was received by my Department on Thursday 25th January 2007. Following the delivery of the report, further funding for the project on an interim basis was agreed by my Department and representatives of the NDVIA.

Officials of my Department are now reviewing this final report, together with the 2006 external evaluation of the pilot project. The aim of the understandably localised pilot project was to develop an integrated response to domestic violence. We need now to consider fully how we are to progress this objective on a nationwide basis.

The analysis of the findings of the pilot project is taking place in the context of a major policy review in my Department and the development of a new Strategic Action Plan for the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women. I expect that Minister of State Frank Fahey and I will bring proposals to Government shortly in relation to the establishment of a domestic violence agency which will ensure the development of a well co-ordinated "whole of Government" response to violence against women.