Vol. 563 No. 2
134 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he intends to take to ensure that victims of crime are provided with information about Victim Support, in view of the fact that research shows that the number of victims referred by the Garda declined from 7,714 in 1999 to 4,861 in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7325/03]
It is essential that the victims of crime are, at the very least, made aware at the earliest possible time of the assistance that is available to them, particularly that provided by the Victim Support organisation. Of course, I share the Deputy's concern about the fall off in referrals of victims to Victim Support, as does the Victim Support organisation and indeed the Garda Commissioner as the Garda Síochána is the main source of referrals to the organisation. A number of factors have been cited in the reduction in referrals, including confidentiality issues arising from the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2000.
In June 2002 my Department, jointly with Victim Support, commissioned a consultancy research study of the Victim Support organisation, the result of which was submitted to me recently. The particular difficulty for that organisation caused by the marked decline in the numbers of victims being referred was one of the issues highlighted by the study. It recommends that a strategy be developed jointly between Victim Support and the Garda Síochána aimed at securing a significant increase in referrals of victims by the Garda Síochána to Victim Support.
I am happy to accept this recommendation and, indeed, I have already had discussions with Victim Support with a view to putting in place all the necessary monitoring arrangements at an early date. I am delighted to note that a partnership agreement between Victim Support and the Garda Síochána has been put in place recently to achieve that specific aim. The strategy will be monitored by the two bodies and my Department on a tripartite basis as the study recommends.
