Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Feb 1996

Vol. 462 No. 1

Written Answers. - Victim Support Funding.

Máirín Quill

Question:

94 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Justice the total amount of grant paid to the Victim Support Organisation in 1995; the manner in which this grant was distributed on a region by region basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4110/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The amount allocated to funding of the Irish Association for Victim Support in 1995 was £130,000. The payment is a contribution towards the general expenses of administration and training of the association. It was on this basis that the Dáil approved of the inclusion of this sum in the Estimates for my Department — see subhead D.2 of the Vote of the Office of the Minister for Justice for 1995.

The Irish Association for Victim Support is a voluntary body, independent of my Department, which provides an invaluable service to victims of crime and the allocation of this funding is, primarily, a matter for them to decide. The association submits to my Department audited accounts of how the allocation is spent. However, the audited accounts do not provide a breakdown of the allocation on a region by region basis.

I am aware that the association has established branches in the following locations: County Carlow, one branch; County Cork, four branches; County Dublin, four branches; County Laois, one branch; County Louth, one branch; County Mayo, one branch; County Sligo, one branch; County Westmeath, one branch; County Wexford, one branch; County Wicklow, one branch.

I understand that the association is planning to open new branches in counties Galway, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford as well as setting-up further units of existing branches this year. In addition, the association has established the court victim witness service, based in the Four Courts, Dublin. The association also runs a 24-hour national helpline for victims and, in association with the Garda Síochána, the Department of Tourism and Trade and sponsors from the tourism industry, they operate the tourist victim support service.