Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 642: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he has taken to establish a commission for victims further to his decision to discontinue direct funding for Victim Support; the amount of funding the commission has provided to Victim Support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28652/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I established the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime 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.

The commission's term of office is for three years and its members are Mr. Jim Mc Hugh, retired assistant commissioner —chairman, Ms Nora Owen, former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Sean Lowry, former head of the probation and welfare service, Mr. Michael Whelan, Gemini Consulting and Ms Marian Finucane, broadcaster.

The commission's remit includes the examination of all aspects of the provision of services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system. These provisions are currently set out in the victims charter which was last updated in 1999.

In addition, the commission will supervise the disbursement of funds to community and other voluntary groups providing victim services, with a particular emphasis on the funding of activities on the ground that provide direct supports for victims of crime. 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 earlier this year. The commission examines each application on its merits and makes an independent decision in relation to eligibility for funding. I understand that these included independent applications from a number of former elements of the Victim Support organisation including a group of ten branches that have formed a new federation for victim assistance, as well as the interim board of victim support. It should be noted that I decided to terminate funding for the Victim Support organisation with effect from 31 March 2005 because of reductions in service levels and concerns in relation to governance, accountability and value for money arising from ongoing internal difficulties in that organisation and because an independent review, carried out early in 2005, concluded that the organisation was terminally damaged.

I understand that the commission has arranged to meet the interim board of Victim Support today, 18 October, in order to discuss their application for funding. As with every other group considered for funding, the commission will have to be satisfied in regard to governance, accountability and value for money issues in coming to its decision.

The Deputy may be interested to note that the commission has already agreed to make funding available to the national crime victims helpline, a single lo-call number manned by volunteers and providing information on all services available to victims of crime, the Rape Crisis Network; the Women's Aid Dublin, the Irish Tourist Advisory Service, the Support after Homicide Group, Advic — a new organisation providing advocacy for families of homicide victims — the Court Support Service, which provides impartial practical support for victims and witnesses in court proceedings; Muintir na Tíre, follow-up support to elderly rural crime victims, ICPAC, the Irish centre for parentally abducted children and CARI, services to child abuse victims.

A number of other applications are under consideration.