DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Galway is to get three new outreach workers for frontline services to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as part of a €23.8 million national funding allocation this year.
The move announced by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will also see a 10% increase in annual funding for Galway Rape Crisis Centre, bringing its 2019 allocation to €444,250.
I am very pleased at the creation of the three new outreach workers for Galway. They will be specifically targetted for combatting domestic violence.
They will provide invaluable work in supporting women and children who suffer at the hands of domestic violence and who are often forced out of their homes.
The Government has moved to close any gaps in services in regions like Galway where there has perceived to been a shortfall and I very much welcome that initiative.
As well as an increase of 10% in funding for sexual violence services and 12 new outreach workers nationwide, there will be a national roll out of a 12-week healing programme for children affected by domestic violence and a specific initiative to reduce waiting times for victims of sexual violence seeking counselling.