Vol. 544 No. 3
291 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding provided by his Department to an organisation (details supplied); and the services this organisation is providing for victims of abuse in County Kerry. [28515/01]
The National Office for Victims of Abuse, NOVA, was established as part of the ongoing Government strategy to assist persons who, as children, were abused while residing in institutional care. The aim of the office is to provide assistance where, necessary, to persons in an impartial and fair manner. The services that are provided by NOVA are directed at every person nationwide, regardless of their geographical location. NOVA is designed to complement the ongoing work already being carried out by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.
Funding of the office is a joint arrangement between the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Education and Science. My Department directly funds the office manager post in NOVA to the tune of approximately £25,000 per annum.
The office offers the following services to victims of abuse: confidential freefone helpline; assistance to persons wishing to trace their records; referral service to persons wishing to avail of literacy services, health services, the national counselling service, education and other appropriate social services.
The office is located at 19 Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin 7 and the opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. The office also operates a freefone service at 1800 25 25 24. A freefone service for people in the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland, is available at 0800 039 0301.
