Performance Delivery Agreement 2024 PDF Free Download
1 / 7/7
100%
Department of Justice
___________
Cuan
(An Ghníomhaireacht um Fhoréigean Baile,
Gnéasach agus Inscnebhunaithe)
Performance Delivery Agreement 2024
2
1. Background and context
1.1 Objectives of this Agreement
The purpose of this Agreement is to define, in the context of the resource inputs provided, the
targets by which the performance of Cuan will be measured in 2024. The ongoing supports
that the Department of Justice will provide to Cuan in this regard, and the mechanisms for
monitoring and appraising performance, form part of the overall governance arrangements
between the two parties and as such are set out in the separate but complementary
multiannual Oversight Agreement.
1.2 Inputs
1.2.1 Financial Inputs
Cuan’s budget allocation for 2024 is as follows:
Expenditure Allocation
A20-funding of DSGBV services € 54,210,000
A26-operating expenses - Pay
€2,661,000
A26-operating expenses - Non-Pay €2,178,000
Total €59,049,000
1.2.2 Staffing Resources
The following table sets out the Cuan’s authorised and actual whole-time equivalent staffing
levels as at 15/08/2024.
Grade
Authorised
(WTE)
Actual (WTE)
Chief Executive Officer
1
1
Principal Officer
5
5
Assistant Principal
9
8
Higher Executive Officer
13
6
Administrative Officer
1
1
Executive Officer
6
3
*Higher Executive Officer
0
*1
Total
35
23
*Grant funded resource on specific project; not counted as part of Agency staff complement
3
2. Performance Targets1
The following are the principal targets that will be referenced in 2024 to assess Cuan’s
efficiency and effectiveness in using the resources allocated to it.
2.1 Quantitative targets
Output area or initiative Metric
2024
Target
2023
Target
2023
Outturn2
Delivery of safe
accommodation for
victims/survivors of
domestic violence
Increase in provision of
refuge units 166
N/A
150
(Tusla)
Increase in provision of
Safe Homes
66
N/A
49
(Tusla)
Perpetrator programmes
Number of individuals
participating in perpetrator
programmes
279
N/A
N/A
(DOJ)
Victims of Crime (VOC)
DSGBV funding
Number of individuals
supported 25801
N/A
N/A
(DOJ)
Governance and
managing financial risk
Number of audits of funded
service organisations
completed
7 N/A N/A
2.2 Other targets
Output area or initiative Target
Governance & Financial Risk –
Policy & Procedures
Development of a new audit framework for Cuan (Q4),
covering the auditing of Cuan-funded organisations, along
with clear oversight and financial management controls for
Cuan itself.
Cuan has embarked on a robust programme of audits of
service providers who have not been audited by Tusla in the
last 5 years and/or who are in receipt of substantial funding,
1 In its first year of operations, Cuan must establish funding and operational capabilities to manage €51.21
million for 78 service organisations, while also developing processes to support a new Board, monitor service
standards, and coordinate the national strategy against domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence. A crucial
task for Cuan is to begin data collection from service providers to create baseline metrics and performance
indicators, as none currently exist, to better assess and meet service demands.
2 Cuan was established on 01/01/2024 and therefore has no 2023 outturn figures. Where possible, we cross-
checked previous funders’ metrics (Tusla and DOJ VOC) and included their anticipated outputs for 2023 and
2024.
4
supported by the Department’s Internal Audit Unit, as part of
the due diligence in the transfer of functions process.
Cuan intends expanding the schedule of audits, which cover
financial and service activity, to ensure that all Cuan-funded
bodies are audited regularly.
Governance & Financial Risk –
Capability & Systems
The Cuan Hub, a new funds administration, data gathering
and reporting platform, to be fully operational for the 2025
funding cycle (Q4).
The Cuan Hub is a one-stop-shop for all organisation, funding
and service inputs, from applications for once-
off and
recurring funding for programmes and services to schedules
of service provision and service output information and data.
As well as supporting the process of funding DSGBV
services, the Cuan Hub will ultimately support the
development and monitoring of a National Services Delivery
Plan.
The Hub will assist Cuan in gathering service data for
analysis, as required under our founding legislation, which
will inform service development and delivery and will provide
a strong evidence base for national policy development.
Transition of functions -
funding
First payments to funded organisations issued by Cuan for
Q3 and Q4, quarterly in advance. Finalise outstanding
underpayments issues from previous Tusla / DOJ VOC funding
agreements and recoup/rebalance in Q4 payments.
Governance & Financial Risk –
Policy & Procedures
Develop processes and secretariat to support the Board
with its work, including introduction of and training in Board
software (Decision Time) (Q4).
Governance & Financial Risk –
Capability & Systems
Establish an Audit & Risk Committee of the Board with the
first meeting to take place by Q4.
Developing Staff Capacity
As a start-up organisation, Cuan recognises the need for
comprehensive induction and appropriate training for
incoming staff members. Cuan also commits to providing
sector-specific training to staff in 2024, including cultural
competency and trauma awareness.
Service Development
Completion of the Framework for National Services
Development Plan (Q4).
Tracking Progress on Refuge
Development
Quarterly progress reports on activity towards achieving the
Government commitment of doubling the number of refuge
spaces to 280 over the lifetime of the Zero Tolerance
Strategy (by end 2026) published on Cuan website (Q4)
Progress on Implementation of
the Zero Tolerance Strategy
Publish a mid-year report on implementation of the Zero
Tolerance Strategy (Q3).
5
on Domestic, Sexual and
Gender Based Violence
Procurement of external expertise to assist with the
development of an Outcomes Framework and KPIs to track
and measure implementation progress for the remainder of
the Zero Tolerance Strategy (Q3/Q4)
Development of Cuan Website
and Online Presence
Phase 1 of Cuan website live and social media channels
launched (Q4)
Finalise Communications
Protocol with DoJ
Agree a final Communications Protocol with Transparency
function to succeed the transitional protocol currently in
place. The Communications Protocol will set out roles and
responsibilities in respect of media, public engagement and
parliamentary matters (Q3).
Awareness-Raising
Campaigns
Working Group established to support awareness-raising
developments, advise on current and proposed campaigns
and ensure that all campaigns reach and are relevant to
minority and hard-to-reach groups (Q4).
Generate National Domestic
Violence Data
In accordance with Zero Tolerance commitment, Cuan will
collaborate with the CSO in scoping and preparatory work
on the Domestic/Gender-Based Violence survey.
This will include preparatory work for the development and
build of an appropriate data collection instrument,
development of field collection protocols, creation of a data
model and agreeing the survey design for collecting
sensitive information.
Survey process commenced and advisory group comprising
key partners (Cuan, CSO, DOJ) established. (Q4).
2.3 Main risks to achievement of targets
The main potential risks to achievement of the performance objectives and measures set out
in this Agreement, and the corresponding mitigation measures in place, are as follows:
Key Risk/
Risk Factor
Impact Key Controls/ Mitigations
Inability to meet
performance targets
and objectives due
to staffing shortages
Reputational damage as a
result of failure to meeting
expectations of
stakeholders and partners.
Burden on existing staff
delivering across multiple
portfolios of work as teams
are being built.
• Communicating progress to
stakeholders and directly
addressing expectations.
• Seeking advice and support from
the Board on managing this risk.
• Clear organisational structures in
place with defined roles and
responsibilities.
• Cuan to ensure timely
development of job descriptions
6
and other elements of the
recruitment pathway.
• Strong and trusted relationship
between Cuan and DoJ
Corporate (HR).
• Monitoring of delivery and
workload in Cuan, recognising
and rewarding staff for their
efforts in creating a new entity.
• DoJ and Cuan agreed on
provision of external recruitment
support to address key gaps in
capacity for urgent areas of work.
Transition risks with
services moving
from Tusla/DoJ to
Cuan that could
reduce confidence in
the new Agency and
create confusion for
services
Funded organisations
unclear or anxious about
change of payment
schedule and unclear about
whom to contact and what
arrangements are in place
for future engagement.
Service organisations
unclear on Cuan’s progress
and how Cuan intends to
involve them in Strategy
implementation, co-design
and collaborative structures.
• Letters issued to all relevant
organisations on 14 June 2024
setting out changes to payments
from monthly to quarterly in
advance, system, update on
Cuan Hub project and transition
from Tusla staff to Cuan staff.
• Early summer meetings held
collectively with a) sexual
violence services and b)
domestic violence services.
• A series of 1-2-1 meetings held
with all other services and with
the larger sexual violence and
domestic violence service
providers.
• Trialling new processes and
communicating same (Q3
payments issued successfully
and there has been minimal
disruption).
• Late Summer communications to
issue from Cuan to services
organisations and testing on the
Cuan Hub.
• Governance, oversight and co-
design, collaboration structures
defined by Q4.
Not delivering on
emergency
accommodation
targets due to
Impact on timeline of delivery
of additional capacity as per
Zero Tolerance
• Dedicated team in Cuan to
oversee delivery and
troubleshoot issues.
7
2.4 Amendment of targets
In exceptional circumstances, it may become necessary to amend one or more targets over
the course of this Agreement. Where either party believes this may be necessary, they shall
consult with the other party with a view to agreeing any appropriate changes as soon as
practicable.
3. Duration and signatories to the Agreement
Deirdre McDonnell, Assistant Secretary, Department of Justice, and Dr. Stephanie O’Keefe,
Chief Executive Officer, Cuan, affirm that this Agreement shall be in effect from the date
hereunder until 31 December 2024.
_____________________ ______________________
Deirdre McDonnell Dr. Stephanie O’Keefe
Assistant Secretary Chief Executive Officer
Department of Justice Cuan
Date: 26/08/2024 Date: 23/08/2024
inherent delays in
the funding model
and associated
policy issues.
• Stronger partnership alliance
with key bodies, focused on
reviewing and assessing timeline
for delivery and alternative
pathways to double capacity by
the end of the Zero Tolerance
Strategy .
