Minister asked to restore full funding to Mayo-based Victim Assistance

THE Minister for Justice has been asked to restore funding to the Mayo-based Victim Assistance organisation.

The volunteer-led group provides free supports to victims of crime or traumatic incidents, with referrals coming in from all around the country.

However, funding has been embargoed since 2020, resulting in service expansion plans being shelved and jobs lost at Victim Assistance, who are based in Kiltimagh.

Local Councillor Adrian Forkan received the full support of his colleagues in Mayo County Council when he tabled a motion calling on the Minister for Justice to restore the funding stream for Victim Assistance so they can reach every person who falls victim of crime or traumatic incidents, through no fault of their own.

Victim Assistance was founded in 2005 and they receive referrals from gardaí from all over the country. Recent referrals included from garda stations in Castlerea, Carrick-on-Shannon, Glenties, Gort and Ennis.

Their work includes helping victims of domestic abuse and coercive control, both male and female, liaising with councils in Mayo, Galway, Clare, Sligo and Louth in the recent past, the councillor explained.

Referrals come in from doctors, psychologists, victim helplines, and have even offshore via the police in Manchester and Scotland, helping citizens abroad, he told colleagues.

However, they are struggling to pay rent as their funding has been embargoed since 2020, when they received €116,000.

Councillor Forkan explained how shortly after that a governance issue was flagged. That was fully investigated and no wrongdoing was found, and a letter from the then minister is available to clarify that.

Due to the lack of funding the office has lost one full-time and two part-time staff members. They have had to delay recruiting and training of all new volunteers due to lack of funding, and plans for expansion and opening sub-offices have been shelved.

“Due to the lack of funding, victims have been neglected and revictimised,” stated Councillor Forkan.

He was calling on the Minister for Justice to reallocate the funding which has been put on hold.

A figure of €190,000 or €120,000 for the work they do is a 'pittance', he added. They are covering the whole of the country outside of Dublin, with a huge amount of calls weekly.

“The fact they are being engaged with by gardaí around the country and then not being funded by the minister is appalling,” said Councillor Forkan.

He received the full support of his colleagues in requesting that the council send a letter to the minister to get the funding reinstated.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme