Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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On programme B, working for safer communities, the Minister spoke about services for victims of crime, for which there is a budget of €2.313 billion. What does she have to say to victims and people like me who feel that not enough money is spent on services for the victims of crime? A constituent whose son was shot outside a pub came to my clinic recently. His son, who was an innocent person, was out of work for two years recovering. He got counselling and assistance from the Garda but he got nothing from a financial point of view. Many victims feel the money goes in the wrong direction and that there should be some sort of budget.

With regard to services for victims of crime, can we divert some of those services? If a person is out of work because he was innocently shot in a gangland shooting while standing outside a pub having a smoke, there should be some facilities to help his family, particularly if he is in hospital and out of work for two or three years and then tries to get back into the economy again. Many people are concerned about money being spent on administration and bureaucracy and feel that not enough of the €2.313 billion is going to the victims of crime.