Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is a cap on payments to non governmental organisations in relation to funding from her Department or the Health Service Executive in relation to support groups that provide services for those who suffer from domestic violence; the limit of such a cap; if her Department received submissions from such groups in relation to extra funding; the decision by the her Department in relation to such a request; if the HSE received such requests; the decisions made in relation to such requests for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14921/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 462: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding provided to the non governmental organisations from her Department and the Health Service Executive over each of the past five years for the provision of services for those who suffer domestic violence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14922/07]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 463: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding provided by her Department or the Health Service Executive to support groups or non governmental organisations in relation to care and support services for children and young people effected by domestic violence in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14924/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 to 463, inclusive, together.

The Department of Health and Children does not fund directly or co-ordinate health and personal social services to victims of abuse. Monies are made available each year, formerly through the health boards, and now through the Health Services Executive, for the provision of services to women victims of violence.

Funding was, up to the end of 2004, provided by the Department of Health and Children to the health boards for the provision of health-related services to women victims of violence. Additional funding was made available each year, from 1997 to 2003 from the health vote. During this period, the annual funding allocation rose from €3m to €12m. This annual level of funding (€12m) continued from 2003 to 2006 inclusive. During this time payments were made to the relevant organizations in respect of general round pay increases and benchmarking where this applied. It is important to remember that this funding does not include further personal and support services provided by the HSE to victims such as services provided by GPs, hospitals, social workers and counsellors.

Since January 2005, the distribution of this funding allocation has been a matter for the Health Services Executive.

In the current financial year a further €6m was allocated to the Violence Against Women sector. €4.5m was allocated for overall service provision in this area. A further €1.5m was allocated for the implementation of the Review of the Sexual Assault Treatment Services, with a commitment to increase this allocation by €1m in 2008 to cover the full year cost of implementing those recommendations.

In addition over €240 million has been invested in family support and child protection services since 1997. Services for children at risk and their families include Springboard Projects, Teen Parent Support Programmes, Community Mothers Programme and Community Care Social Work services.

The management and delivery of health and personal social services, including the provision of care and support services to children and young people affected by domestic violence, are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004.

The manner in which this increased allocation is apportioned to service providers is a matter for the HSE, as is the overall allocation of funding amongst the range of services provided to women victims of violence and to children affected by domestic violence.