John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will address the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of its submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3493/07]

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 7 December 2006 (ref 42178/06) and to Parliamentary Question 2853/07 of Wednesday 31 January 2007. In this latter response, I advised the House that the final report of the completed pilot project was received by my Department on Thursday 25 January 2007. Officials of my Department had a meeting with representatives of the NDVIA on 29 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 the NDVIA. The NDVIA has sought a response within three months. During the three years 2003-2006 inclusive, the NDVIA hasreported that, it interacted with a total of 39 clients, mostly victims but also a small number of perpetrators. I would like to assure the Deputy that the nationwide network of front-line services for victims of domestic violence provided by the State and the voluntary sector will remain fully in place whatever happens with this local pilot project.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 212: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the recommendations in the 1997 Report of the Task Force on Violence Against Women, specifically in regard to the implementation of Garda policy in dealing with domestic violence; if there are monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure consistency in implementation throughout the various Garda districts and between individual gardaí; if responsibility for implementing policy has been assigned to a specific assistant commissioner at central level and specific superintendents at district level; if Garda domestic violence and sexual assault investigation units have been established in the major urban areas outside Dublin, that is, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway; and if these things have not been done, when they will be done. [3508/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will be in contact with the Deputy when this information is to hand.