Tusla to Provide further Supports to the Domestic, Sexual, and Gender Based Violence Sector 

        -Tusla Services to Remain Open throughout Covid Surge-

Tusla – Child and Family Agency today announces further funding will be provided to the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence sector to support this important work throughout the current period of the pandemic, and into Christmas. 

Over the course of the pandemic Tusla has ensured priority focus remains on three critical services Child Protection, Children in Care and Domestic, Sexual, Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) response.  In recent months the agency has been able to restore almost all of its other work, and this continues.

As we face a particular surge in the disease in the community we will continue with as much normal activity as possible, but where we experience pressure, we will ensure the three critical services are protected.  As our DSGBV services are almost entirely provided by funded organisations we are making available additional supports to them recognising the impact of Covid 19, the known demand for DSGBV services and the pending Christmas period.  All organisations will be contacted this week and provided with further additional options of funding where the pandemic affects them, such as in staffing, between now and the end of January.  

Commenting on the measure, Bernard Gloster, CEO, Tusla said: “We know from the start of the pandemic that responding to Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence is essential as it always is and in circumstances such as this requires additional supports.  We will work with all providers to ensure they have every chance of maintaining services and helplines over the next while.”