Ms Maria McDonald:

The issue is that the victim support organisations are underfunded and significantly rely on volunteers. In fairness to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, in recent years she has increased the funding for victim support organisations annually. I do not remember the exact figures but one is looking at an increase of approximately €5,000 for each organisation. Although she has substantially increased it by 20%, in reality it is little money for the victim support organisations.

The victims directive under article 8 indicates victims are required, legally, to victim support services free of charge before, during and after the criminal justice process. The difficulty arises with how we have a fragmented victim support system, unlike the UK which has one organisation, Victim Support UK. Here it is not Government-led but NGO-led. While that is a positive point, it also means that they are relying significantly on Government moneys to provide services. When they are under-resourced, it means the victims cannot necessarily access them.