Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for a nationwide victim support service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31470/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Services assisting the victims of crime are supported through the work of the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime which I established in March 2005. The commission's term of office is for three years and its members are: Mr. Jim Mc Hugh, retired Garda 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 is to devise an appropriate support framework for victims of crime into the future and disburse funding for victim support measures. The commission's remit also includes the examination of all aspects of the provision of services for victims of crime within the criminal justice system. These provisions are set out in the victims' charter which was last updated in 1999. In addition, the commission supervises 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.

The Deputy may be interested to note that the commission has already agreed to make funding available to the following: the national crime victims helpline, a single low-call number manned by volunteers and providing information on all services available to victims of crime; Rape Crisis Network; Women's Aid Dublin; Irish Tourist Advisory Service; Support after Homicide group; Advic, a new organisation providing advocacy for families of homicide victims; Court Support Service, which provides impartial practical support for victims and witnesses in court proceedings; Muintir na Tíre, for follow-up support to elderly rural crime victims; ICPAC, the Irish Centre for Parentally Abducted Children; CARI, which provides services to child abuse victims. A number of other applications are under consideration.