Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency Act 2023

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Functions of Agency

6. (1) The Agency shall have the following functions:

(a) to plan, coordinate and monitor the development of refuge accommodation for victims of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence;

(b) to provide support to service providers, including financial assistance, for the provision by them of—

(i) services delivered in refuge accommodation and other services for victims and persons at risk of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, and

(ii) programmes with the purpose of preventing, and reducing the incidence of, such violence;

(c) where so requested by the Minister, to prepare, and submit for the approval of the Minister, standards for the provision of the services referred to in paragraph (b)(i) and the programmes referred to in paragraph (b)(ii);

(d) to monitor adherence by service providers to the standards referred to in paragraph (c);

(e) to compile and publish information regarding the availability of the refuge accommodation referred to in paragraph (a) and the services and programmes referred to in paragraph (b);

(f) to develop and implement public campaigns, and provide advice or support in relation to the development of public campaigns by public service bodies and other persons, for the purposes of—

(i) increasing awareness of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and the associated risk factors, and

(ii) reducing the incidence of such forms of violence;

(g) where requested by the Minister, to provide him or her with—

(i) such assistance as he or she may require in the development or evaluation of strategies and plans in relation to domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, and

(ii) in such form and frequency as the Minister may specify, reports on the implementation of such strategies and plans;

(h) to coordinate, oversee and provide advice and support, as appropriate, in relation to the implementation by public service bodies of the strategies and plans referred to in paragraph (g);

(i) to undertake, commission, assist or collaborate in research (including the collection, compilation and assessment of statistical data) to support the evaluation of policies, strategies and services relating to domestic, sexual or gender-based violence and to support generally the effective performance by the Agency of its other functions under this Act or any other enactment;

(j) such additional functions as are conferred on it under subsection (5).

(2) In performing its functions, the Agency shall—

(a) collaborate with any person that the Agency considers appropriate in relation to any matter connected with the functions of the Agency,

(b) engage with, and consider recommendations from, public service bodies, international bodies, persons with expertise in the area of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence, persons in receipt of the services or programmes referred to in subsection (1)(b) and the general public,

(c) have regard to the diverse circumstances and needs of victims and persons at risk of domestic, sexual or gender-based violence (including children and young persons),

(d) have regard to the policies and objectives of the Minister and the Government in so far as those policies and objectives may affect, or relate to, the functions of the Agency, and

(e) have regard to the resources available to the Agency and the need to secure the most beneficial, effective and efficient use of those resources.

(3) The Agency shall act through, and its functions shall be performed in the name of the Agency by, the chief executive.

(4) The Agency shall have all such powers as are necessary or expedient for the performance by it of its functions.

(5) The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, by order confer on the Agency such additional functions connected with its existing functions as the Minister considers to be appropriate, subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in the order.

(6) An order under subsection (5) may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary or appropriate for the purposes of giving full effect to the conferral of additional functions on the Agency.

(7) An order made by the Minister under subsection (5) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which the House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.