The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Michael McDowell, T.D., today welcomed the disbursement of funding of almost 900,000 Euro in 2006 by the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime to 33 organisations engaged in supporting victims of crime.

The Tánaiste said"I established the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime in March 2005 with a remit to disburse funding for victim support measures and to develop a framework for victim's services going forward into the future.  To date, the Commission has allocated 1.5million Euro in funding to organisations engaged in giving support to victims of crime.   It has also taken the initiative to develop co-operation and support between these organisations themselves and between the organisations and the relevant State Agencies to ensure that the victim has a central place when dealing with crime.
 
I would like to commend the Commission, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Jim McHugh, for the progress they have made in strengthening the support for victims of crime and in disbursing funding to groups who are providing an invaluable service to victims of crime.

I am pleased to announce the allocation of 1.11 million Euro to the Commission for disbursal to organisations who support victims of crime in 2007.  I understand that the Commission advertised recently for grant applications for 2007 and that the closing date for such applications is the 31st January, 2007.  I strongly urge organisations to submit their proposals to the Commission as soon as possible."

The Tánaiste also paid tribute to those volunteers at local level who work, tirelessly and largely unrecognised, to provide a service to the victims of crime.  He said that their sense of responsibility and support to the community deserves the praise, admiration and support of both society in general and Government in particular.

List of organisations.

11 January 2007

 

Note for Editors

In March, 2005 the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform established the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime with a remit to:

(a) to devise an appropriate framework for victims of crime into the future and
(b) disburse funding for victim support measures.

The Commission's term of office is for three years and its members are

Mr Jim Mc Hugh, (Chairman), former Assistant Commissioner, An Garda Síochána,
Ms Nora Owen, former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform,
Mr Sean Lowry, former head of the Probation and Welfare Service,
Mr Michael Whelan, Gemini Consulting,
Ms Marian Finucane, broadcaster.

The Commission's remit includes the examination of all aspects of the provision of services to victims of crime within the criminal justice system.  These provisions are set out in the Victims Charter of 1999 which the Commission is currently reviewing.

The Commission supervises the disbursement of funds to non- governmental organisations providing victim services, with a particular emphasis on the funding of activities on the ground that provide direct support for victims of crime.

In 2005 and 2006 the Commission granted funding for measures to support victims of various crimes including sexual violence, domestic violence, murder, human trafficking and general crime. Funding of 685,750 Euro was granted in 2005.  Funding of 885,250 Euro was granted in 2006.