Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a national funding framework will be put in place to ensure the future of organisations working to eliminate violence against women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38617/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Funding for the provision of services to women experiencing violence, including domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children, while the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for the provision of refuges and other emergency accommodation. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's responsibilities are for any necessary responses from the civil and criminal justice systems as well as for any preventative measures which can be put in place, including awareness-raising programmes aimed at changing society's attitude to violence against women. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform also chairs and provides the secretariat to the national steering committee on violence against women, NSC.

A subgroup of the NSC, made up of representatives from the above Departments, as well as other Departments with a role in this field, has been examining the funding arrangements in place and it is likely that improved co-ordination arrangements will flow from this work. The allocation of resources will of course remain a matter for each Department, in the context of its own Estimates process.