Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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72. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which the additional 21% provided in the 2016 budget to fund sexual violence victims' services has been allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40295/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2016 I secured a 21% increase in funding for services to victims of crime. This funding, which is administered by the Victims of Crime office in my Department, is allocated to organisation working with victims of domestic, sexual and general crime. These organisations provide vital and valuable information and support to victims of crime, including emotional support, court accompaniment, accompaniment to Garda interviews, accompaniment to sexual assault treatment units, counselling and referral to other services to victims of crime.

In 2016, my department allocated a total of €180,000 to organisations providing support to victims of sexual violence, an increase of almost €25,000 from the €155,148 allocated in 2015.