I propose to take Questions Nos. 448 to 452, inclusive, together.
The national missing persons helpline was established in October 2002. Initial funding of €65,000,to include set-up costs, was provided by my Department to establish a dedicated national missing persons helpline, to be operated and administered by Victim Support. Further funding of €45,000 was provided to the helpline in 2003. This funding was provided subject to the conditions that no funding beyond the year 2003 should be implied and audited accounts should be provided to my Department. To date, in spite of requests, no audited accounts have been received in my Department. I am not in a position, therefore, to provide a breakdown of expenditure incurred by the missing persons helpline.
In March 2005, I decided that continued funding of the Victim Support organisation could no longer be justified, due to serious concerns in relation to governance, accountability for public funds and poor service levels, after a lengthy period of instability within the organisation. I understand that Victim Support Limited closed down its headquarters operation during 2005 and a number of staff were made redundant, including the person employed to operate the missing persons helpline.
The conditions under which my Department provided funding did not include any requirements concerning operational activities of the helpline. Decisions made in relation to the advertising or publicity of the helpline were made by Victim Support, an independent, non-governmental organisation with charitable status, which managed the operation of the helpline, in conjunction with the helpline itself.
Since March 2005, funding for services providing victim support is provided through the independent Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime. The commission received an application for funding from the Missing in Ireland support service in April 2005. The application was for €71,000 to staff and operate a helpline for missing persons. After careful consideration of the application the commission decided to offer funding of €25,000. However, this offer was rejected by the Missing in Ireland support service. It should be borne in mind in this context that the commission is charged with funding support services for victims of crime, and that while some persons who are missing are crime victims, most are not. It remains open to the Missing In Ireland support service to make an application to my Department for assistance if it wishes. Any such application will be carefully considered on its merits.