Vol. 573 No. 3
581 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if adequate and sufficient finance will be provided to ensure the continuance of the missing persons helpline; if the Garda Síochána reports all persons who are identified as missing to the aforesaid helpline; if not, the reason it does not do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25124/03]
583 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the annual level of grant aid provided to fund the provision of the missing persons helpline; the nature of the support services provided by it; if he will compare this budget and service provision to the equivalent helpline in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25170/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 583 together.
The missing persons helpline has been operating since October 2002. It is a dedicated helpline operated by Victim Support as a counselling and referral service and as a primary point of contact for the families of missing persons. The helpline provides advice and psychological support for families of missing persons as well as structured liaison with the Garda Síochána. A total of €65,000 (including start-up costs) was made available for the helpline by my Department in 2002 and funding of a further €45,000 has been provided in 2003. A condition of funding was that an independent evaluation would be carried out after the helpline had been in operation for one year. That evaluation is currently under way and will consider, inter alia, some of the issues raised in the question. When the report of the evaluation is available, my Department will be consulting with Victim Support and the Garda Síochána with a view to deciding how best to proceed.
The equivalent helpline in the UK is the national missing persons helpline, which was established to advise and support missing people and their families and friends. I understand that it operates as a charity dependent on voluntary donations.
