Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 180: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the outstanding details which he needs to obtain from Victim Support before he will be in a position to recommence core funding for the organisation. [21734/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have no plans at present to recommence core funding for the Victim Support organisation. The disbursement of funding to support victims of crime is now a matter for the new Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime. The commission is an independent body established in March 2005 with a remit to devise an appropriate support framework for victims of crime into the future and disburse funding for victim support measures.

I am advised that the commission has received over 60 applications for funding for measures to support victims of crime in response to a public advertisement and that these include a number of applications from separate groupings within Victim Support, some of which are no longer associated with that body. The commission will examine each application on its merits and will make an independent decision with regard to eligibility for funding.

It should be noted that I decided to terminate funding of Victim Support with effect from 31 March 2005 because of reductions in service levels and concerns with regard to governance, accountability and value for money arising from ongoing internal difficulties in that organisation. An independent review carried out early in 2005 concluded that the organisation was terminally damaged. My Department agreed to make a final allocation to Victim Support in respect of expenditure up to 31 March this year, on production of relevant accounts, subject to verification by the Department. Material was received from Victim Support in this regard on 31 May 2005 and that is currently under examination in my Department. Victim Support is aware that the commission is not in a position to consider its application for funding until these matters have been concluded to my satisfaction and until I am in a position to advise the commission that issues of accountability for public funds already allocated to Victim Support have been resolved.

I should reiterate that the commission will make an independent decision with regard to funding on the merits of each proposal it has received. I might add that the commission has recently allocated its first tranche of funding for measures to support crime victims. A sum of €50,000 was allocated to the Rape Crisis Network for court accompaniment for victims of rape and sexual assault and a sum of €28,000 was allocated to Women's Aid for court accompaniment for victims of domestic violence.