Vol. 526 No. 6
378 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the organisation, Irish Sur vivors of Child Abuse, will have offices in the proposed national office to support survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27271/00]
The primary purpose of the office which my Department has established, together with the Department of Health and Children and the relevant health board is to provide information and support to victims of abuse in childhood. In particular, it will provide information to the victims on the various Government initiatives designed to meet their needs, including the commission to inquire into child abuse and the counselling services provided by the health boards. It will also provide, more generally, information on a wide range of education and social programmes and will assist, as far as practicable, victims of abuse to access these services.
A number of support groups have been established around the country to support and represent the views of victims of abuse. It is my intention that these groups will, as far as practicable, have a meaningful input into deciding on the nature and extent of the services being provided in the office. Representative groups will themselves be supported by the office primarily through the provision of services such as meeting rooms, secretarial services and expenses for carrying on their work. The extent to which any particular group will be supported will be a matter in the first instance for recommendation by the management committee, made up of representatives of the support groups, and the administrator of the office and will be dependent upon the commitment of the group to support the aims of the office. If any organisation makes an application for support it will be considered by the management committee and the administrator of the office.
