Funding of over €4.6m will benefit more than 60 organisations, including local groups that support victims of crime, Dublin Mid-West TD has said. Deputy Emer Higgins, TD for Dublin Mid-West has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD that funding of €4.6m has been given to over 60 organisations supporting victims of crime.
“There is a growing national conversation around crime, especially sexual, domestic and gender based violence and Minister McEntee is rightly recognising that through a number of reforms and this latest funding announcement represents a 20% increase in funding on the previous year,” said Deputy Higgins. “Two excellent groups serving local people in Dublin Mid-West, Beacon of Light Counselling Centre and Saoirse Housing Association have received €20,000 and €35,000 respectively and national organisations will also benefit with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre receiving €300,000 to continue the invaluable work that they do,
“We have so many brilliant local organisations doing outstanding work for victims of crime and this funding will help them to further improve their services and help as many people as possible,” added Deputy Higgins. “Creating a victim-centred criminal justice system is a serious ambition of this government and Minister McEntee, because a fear of not being believed or being mis-treated should never stop a victim of crime from seeking help. “I think many of the reforms Minister McEntee is introducing, such as preliminary trial hearings, training for frontline staff in the legal system, increased court accompaniment funding and helplines for victims will be beneficial to making the system more supportive of victims,” added Deputy Higgins.
“With regard to sexual domestic and gender based violence I think a culture change is also needed so I really welcome that increased funding of €250,000 has also been made available to a number of organisations like Doras and Men’s Development Network to support training and awareness raising initiatives around domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. “I know that for so many people in Dublin Mid-West, tackling issues of crime and violence in the community is a priority and I am confident that measures such as this increased funding will go a long way to investing in prevention and supporting victims,” concluded Deputy Higgins.
