Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make funding available to enable the National Domestic Violence Intervention Agency to continue in operation following its very successful three year pilot project in the Dún Laoghaire Bray District Courts areas; and if he will ensure that action is taken on an immediate basis in view of the fact that current funding runs out on 31 January 2007. [2853/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 5 of Thursday 7th December 2006 (ref 42178/06). I can add that the final report of the pilot project was received by my Department on Thursday 25th January 2007.

Officials of my Department had a meeting with representatives of the NDVIA on 29th January 2007 and explained to the NDVIA that, in accordance with customary procedures, their final report on the pilot project and its most recent outcomes would now be evaluated by the Department. The original external evaluation of the pilot project, completed in early 2006, will also be reviewed again in order to consider fully the options for advancing the objective matter of the pilot project on a nationwide basis. My Department has since been in consultation with the NDVIA on the question of a funding arrangement — on an interim basis — pending examination by the Government of the report submitted, and of any new developments in the area. It is understood that this offer is acceptable to NDVIA. During the period 2003 — 2006 inclusive, the NDVIA has reported to us that it interacted with 39 clients, mostly victims but including a small number of perpetrators. Any decision by the NDVIA to have closed following completion of the pilot project would not have resulted in any loss of availability of front line services provided by the State or otherwise to address violence against women.