2530. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the formal consultation Cuan has undertaken directly with victims and survivors of domestic violence; the number of victims and survivors participated; the specific policy or service changes resulted from that consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63297/26]

2575. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the formal consultation that Cuan has undertaken directly with victims and survivors of domestic violence; the number of victims and survivors that participated; and the specific policy or service changes resulted from that consultation. [63497/26]

2589. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding any formal consultation that Cuan has undertaken directly with victims and survivors of domestic violence, how many victims and survivors participated; the specific policy or service changes resulted from that consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63542/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2530, 2575 and 2589 together.

I recognise the importance of ensuring that the voices and experiences of victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) inform the development of DSGBV policy, services and public awareness initiatives. The Zero Tolerance Strategy and, indeed, the Programme for Government clearly set out our commitments to listening to victims and survivors and ensuring that their voice informs service improvements, as well as policy and practice.

This commitment is reflected in Action 4.7.1 of the assets.gov.ie/static/documents/Zero_Tolerance_Implementation_Plan_2025-2026.pdf which seeks to strengthen consultative structures to engage victims and survivors, children, civil society and sectoral organisations throughout implementation of the Strategy, particularly the development of services, research and public awareness campaigns. The purpose of this work is to ensure that actions to prevent and respond to DSGBV are informed by lived experience and victims and survivor voices.

Last year, Cuan partnered with the National Women's Council and the Observatory on Violence Against Women to fund independent research on the development of survivor structures of engagement. This research included consultations undertaken by an independent expert with three distinct cohorts: victim-survivors themselves, the DSGBV sector and civil society, and civil and public servants. The researcher also undertook consultation on good practice in survivor engagement in other jurisdictions and was supported by an Advisory Group to the project which included representatives of civil society and the DSGBV sector, as well as officials from my Department and Cuan. This project concluded with the publication of www.nwci.ie/learn/publication/structures_of_engagement_for_survivors_of_violence_against_women which was launched in April 2026. Cuan and my Department have considered the report's recommendations and are at the early stages of progressing the development of dedicated survivor engagement structures.

In parallel, officials from Cuan and my Department engage regularly with victims and survivors and their representative groups, including in the development of public awareness campaigns, research and service development, as well as through bilateral engagement at the request of survivors themselves. I regularly meet with victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and I commend their bravery in sharing their often traumatic experiences in order to strengthen protections for others in similar situations.

My Department and Cuan are particularly conscious of the need for survivor engagement to be intersectional and inclusive of those from seldom-heard groups and continues to work with survivor representative groups, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to ensure this objective is achieved. My Department convenes regular meetings with sectoral stakeholders through a number of different fora including the DSGBV Forum, the Victims of Crime Forum, the Family Justice Development Forum and the Human Trafficking Stakeholders Forum. These meetings provide an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with frontline organisations working with victims and survivors with the aim of keeping updated on developments and trends, improving outcomes and supporting those engaging with the justice system.

While no single consolidated figure is maintained for the number of victims and survivors who have participated across the wide range of consultation and engagement mechanisms supported by my Department or Cuan, engagement has taken place through multiple channels, and this will continue.

My Department, supported by Cuan, has commenced initial preparations for development of the Fourth National Strategy on DSGBV. Early consultation activity has already taken place, including engagement with stakeholders and services through the National Women's Council which include victim-survivors and their representative groups, and further consultations will continue as work progresses, including engagement with children and young people.

Through supporting these measures, I remain fully committed to ensuring that the lived experience of victims and survivors continues to shape the development of policy, services, research and public awareness initiatives, and that victims’ and survivors’ voices continue to be central to Ireland's response to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.