Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The only way this will work is by providing additional funding and supports through our national and Government bodies and agencies, but also by supporting the community groups which have been doing a fantastic job over the last number of years. There is a space for them to work in parallel and in tandem with the State agencies. We have spoken about the agency that the Deputy specifically mentioned before. My Department is engaging directly with the HSE on it. We will ensure that the support it needs, whether it is through funding from my Department or from the HSE, is provided to it in the same way that support is being provided to other organisations, not just from my Department of Justice, which often specifically focuses on victims of crime, but from other sources of funding.

On the structure, the first meeting of the implementation board has happened. I subsequently met with the board, Deputies Ó Murchú, O'Dowd and Nash, former Senator Imelda Henry and others. I have since met with the community groups, which clearly stated that they wanted to ensure that there was a community representative on the implementation board. Following the appointment of the co-ordinator, which is happening this week, she will meet with the community groups, which can identify representatives to sit on the board. Of course, as we know, the subgroups are already being rolled out. Therefore, there are many layers to the plan. The community is involved at every stage, supported by my Department, all Government agencies and local representatives.

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