Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This question is in the name of Deputy Seán Crowe. Permission has been given for Deputy Jonathan O'Brien to substitute.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Has the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality's attention been drawn to the fact that the Justice for the Forgotten group has tried to secure funding for a small number of victims of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings who were referred by a general practitioner and that this request has been denied by the Victims of Crime Office?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Following inquiries in my Department and telephone contact with the group referred to in the details supplied, I wish to confirm that there are no outstanding claims for payments in my Department. The group received funding in each of the years 2014 to 2016, inclusive, from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the reconciliation fund administered by that Department. The applications for funding from the 2017 tranche of the fund are at an advanced stage of review in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I refer to my answer to a question tabled by Deputy Finian McGrath concerning those matters. The position has not changed since my reply on that day which outlined the exact situation in terms of the remembrance commission, for example, and the €3.87 million in funding that was made available to individual victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland resident in this jurisdiction to acknowledge their suffering. A significant amount of funding was also made available directly to the Justice for the Forgotten group, which supports many of the victims. The exceptional payments element of the remembrance commission scheme provided for the possibility of payment for counselling expenses incurred prior to the establishment of the scheme in the circumstances that were outlined. Some ongoing counselling services were provided through Justice for the Forgotten.

The group was also awarded funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under its reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds to allow it to continue its important work.

While it is not possible to extend the nature of the schemes administered by it, I reiterate the assurances given previously that funding for certain ongoing medical needs of those who sustained injuries in the bombings has been and will continue to be provided through my Department's Victims of Crime Office. However, we have not been able to find any outstanding application. We have also made telephone contact with the group.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister is aware, I am taking this on behalf of Deputy Crowe and I do not have the level of detail that he would have. The information which has been passed onto me is that there has been ongoing funding for physical injuries, including access to funding for hearing aids. However, the issue he has raised with me concerns cases where people have been referred for counselling and psychological services by a GP but applications in this regard have not been granted. This is the information I have received. There is a recognition of ongoing funding for physical injuries. However, my information as of today is that individuals seeking counselling services have been denied funding to access those counselling services, even with a GP referral letter. I am more than happy to ask Deputy Crowe to liaise directly with the Minister's office and to give her the details relating to some of the cases with which he is dealing.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The medical needs are being provided for. The Victims of Crime Office in my Department continues to provide the funding for certain ongoing medical needs. The Deputy said that. The particular group received total funding of more than €1.2 million through the remembrance commission which was financed by my Department. That operated a scheme of payments to groups offering support services. A total of €1.2 million of the €1.5 million that we had at that time for victims was given to this group. It was substantial support. It got almost €900,000 from the Department of the Taoiseach in the period from 2000 to 2003, inclusive. When the term of the remembrance commission came to an end in October 2008, the funding under the scheme ended. Nevertheless, a decision was taken to grant further funding to the Justice for the Forgotten group and another €190,000 was given by the State so that it could continue to operate while seeking to put alternative funding in place. Beyond that extra €190,000, which was a sort of bridging payment, it was not possible for my Department to continue to fund the organisation. I have outlined the position relating to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. If the Deputy's colleague wishes to submit any further details to my office, he should please do that.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I appreciate that the Minister is giving the information as she has it, as I am doing. I will revert to Deputy Crowe and relay to him the Minister's response. If he knows of individual cases that have been denied counselling services, I will ask him to take it up directly with her office.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Does the Tánaiste have anything further to add?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is clear that there has been substantial support for the victims in these particular circumstances. It was a huge part of the overall funding available to my office. If there are particular ongoing needs at this point, it may be possible to see if there is some appropriate funding mechanism. However, it was not possible for my Department to continue the funding beyond the point that I have outlined to the House.