Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of funding that has been given by taxpayers to the National Women's Council for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49097/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The National Women’s Council of Ireland is the umbrella group for the promotion of women’s rights and women’s equality in Ireland with approximately 160 member organisations. It has received core funding from the State for many years to enable it to assist with the goal of achieving de facto gender equality, which has economic and social benefits as well as being a human rights issue.

The NWCI received funding from a number of Government Departments however I can only account for the funding provided by my Department to the NWCI in the period in question.

In 2008, the NWCI received core funding of €575,000 from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

In 2009 and 2010 respectively, the NWCI received €548,000 from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, although, technically some of this funding in 2010 was paid through the Vote of the then Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. In 2011, the NWCI received €528,000 from the Department of Justice and Equality, again with the first payment coming from the then Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs.

The NWCI's Budget allocation was curtailed in 2012, due to the prevailing economic circumstances and the need to support services rather than advocacy at a time when there were so many pressures on the public purse. Accordingly the NWCI will receive an allocation of €350,000 by the end of the present year.