Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 73: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will provide core funding for organisations that provide support services, including violence against women services which are being delivered almost exclusively by voluntary organisations; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the financial allocation for these services remain fixed since 2003 and that due to a lack of funding every year, thousands of helpline calls are being missed with women having to wait months for rape crisis counselling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29897/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not directly fund or co-ordinate health and personal social services to victims of abuse. Moneys are made available each year, formerly through the health boards and now through the Health Service Executive, for the provision of services to women victims of violence. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in funding so that now over €12 million is provided annually for the provision of such services. The distribution of this funding is now a matter for the Health Services Executive.

The Tánaiste asked the HSE to carry out an analysis of the current level of service provision in this area and to report back to her. She awaits this report with interest and will be further informed by its findings.