Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform his views on recent media reports regarding the courts support service offered to victims and families of victims of crime being severely reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42012/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Since its inception in 2005, the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime has provided €268,500 in grant assistance to the Court Support Services and it continues to provide grant assistance in 2010.

The Commission has devoted considerable time and energy over a number of years to addressing long-standing governance issues in the Court Support Services. Since June 2009, the Management Board of the service has been actively working to resolve these issues.

An independent report on the governance of the service made a number of recommendations, including in relation to unvouched expenses, which the Management Board is in the process of implementing.

A service continues to be available from the Court Support Services. I am assured that the Board of the Court Support Services is fully committed to providing the best possible service to victims of crime on a sustainable basis and that a full resumption of service will follow as soon as possible.