Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 427: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his reasons for withdrawing funding from the victim support organisation; if the matter will be reviewed with a view to restoring funding to such a necessary and worthy organisation to enable the re-establishment of an office and full-time service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29922/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The disbursement of funding to services supporting victims of crime is a matter for the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime. The Commission is an independent body established in March 2005 with a remit to: (a) devise an appropriate support framework for victims of crime into the future and (b) disburse funding for victim support measures.

It should be noted that I decided to terminate funding for the Victim Support organisation with effect from 31st 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. An independent review carried out early in 2005 concluded that the organisation was terminally damaged and that further funding of the organisation could not be justified. In 2005 the Commission focused on supporting and promoting the existing services for victims of crime, particularly in the voluntary sector, in order to ensure continuity of services on the ground, pending the development of a national framework of services.

I am advised that 71 applications for funding were received in 2005 after a public advertisement and were examined in detail by the Commission. I understand that these included independent applications from a number of former elements of the Victim Support organisation as well as Victim Support. The Commission examined each application on its merits and made an independent decision in relation to eligibility for funding. €685,750 was distributed to 28 groups providing front-line services to victims of crime in 2005. Victim Support received €72,250 in funding from the Commission.

The Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime placed another public advertisement in national newspapers in April, 2006 inviting applications for funding for the provision of services to victims of crime. I am informed that the Commission has considered and allocated funding on the basis of applications received with the required supporting documentation. I am also informed that Victim Support made a submission to the Commission for funding in 2006 but were advised by the Commission to forward a formal application, and that such a formal application was received by the Secretariat to the Commission yesterday (26th September 2006). I understand, that the Commission has also notified Victim Support that, as is the case with all applications, any allocation for funding for 2006 is dependent upon the provision of certain financial returns, and these have not been forwarded to date by Victim Support.