Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider funding for counselling for victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings for a number of sessions and as referred by a general practitioner. [23965/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to confirm that following inquiries in my Department and enquires with an organisation supporting such victims, there are no outstanding claims for such payments in my Department.

In addressing the legacy of the troubles for victims, the Government established the Remembrance Commission. Over the Commission's lifetime from 2003 to 2008, €3.87 million was made available to individual victims of the conflict in Northern Ireland resident in this jurisdiction to acknowledge their suffering, to address economic hardship and certain medical expenses.

The Justice for the Forgotten group which supports victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings received significant funding over the years in this regard.

Part of this funding was used for counselling services. When that funding scheme ended, the then Minister gave an undertaking that funding for certain ongoing medical needs of people who sustained injuries in the bombings would continue to be paid and funding for this purpose continues to be provided through the Victims of Crime Office in my Department.

It was clear that those payments from my Department would not include funding for counselling services and that remains the situation at present.

I can also advise the Deputy that the Justice for the Forgotten group has received funding in each of the years 2014 to 2016 inclusive, from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, under the Reconciliation Fund administered by that Department and that applications for funding from the 2017 tranche of the Fund are at an advanced stage of review.