Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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451. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the engagement that she has had with the Department of Education on the national strategy on domestic and gender-based violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38704/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I recently published Zero Tolerance: the Third National Strategy to combat Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV).

The goal of our third national strategy is clear: zero tolerance of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it.

Reflecting the Government’s commitment to make this the most ambitious Strategy to date, and in particular to make a real impact on the provision of refuge units and other associated support services, will require additional expenditure. The Strategy also places significant emphasis on working with all of society to combat the underlying assumptions and attitudes that can lead to violence against women. This includes working in an appropriate way with younger people, including in the context of the education system

The implementation plan published alongside the Strategy is for actions to be progressed between now and the end of next year, at which point the next implementation plan will be published. The implementation plan sets out how each of the aims of the Strategy will be achieved, which Departments and agencies are responsible for them, and the timeframe for delivery, so that it is targeted, ambitious and deliverable.

There was regular constructive engagement between officials from my Department and the Department of Education during the drafting process for both the Strategy and the implementation plan. I also met with Minister Foley in May to discuss the Strategy and the important actions that the Department of Education will take forward.

The Department of Education has had and will continue to have a vital role to play in the development and implementation of the Strategy, particularly in relation to teacher education; raising awareness of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence issues; anti-bullying policy and updating the curriculum for Relationships and Sexuality Education in Primary and Post-Primary schools.