Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
720 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons charged and convictions obtained against clients of prostitutes each week during March and April 2004 in the Dublin 7 area. [11544/04]
View answer721 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of pimps charged or convicted of offences during March and April 2004 for organising prostitution in the Dublin 7 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11545/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 720 and 721 together.
I have made inquiries with the Garda authorities and the information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the following table:
Convictions obtained against clients of prostitutes March/April 2004 in Dublin 7 area.
|
Week ending |
7 Mar |
14 Mar |
21 Mar |
28 Mar |
4 April |
11 April |
18 April |
|
Charged |
6 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
|
Convicted |
6 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
|
Pending |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
I understand that there have been no persons charged or convicted during the months of March or April for organising prostitution in the Dublin 7 area.
722 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding and resources provided to voluntary groups working with prostitutes in the Dublin 7 area; and if these will be increased in order to assist the prostitutes in finding alternative means of income. [11546/04]
View answerThrough the Government's local drug task force initiative, the Chrysalis community drug project in Benburb Street, Dublin 7, is currently in receipt of yearly funding of €39,120 in respect of targeted work with drug-using women working in prostitution in the area. This funding is channelled via the Northern Area Health Board.
My Department, through the probation and welfare service, also provides funding of €300,000 per annum to the Ruhama Women's Project for its work with women involved in prostitution. In addition in 2003, a once-off grant of €12,000 was provided to the Ruhama Project by my Department for its work with women who have been trafficked into Ireland for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
I can also inform the Deputy that under the equality for women measure of the national development plan, my Department approved funding of approximately €380,000 in February, 2002 to the Ruhama Women's Project. The funding is for a three-year pilot project designed to develop a model of intervention, which will support and enable marginalised women to access education, training and the labour market.
