Funding boost for Clare organisation committed to promoting the rights of women and children
Department of Justice allocates €16,000 to Clare Haven Services
A Clare-based organisation which is committed to promoting the rights of women and children to live and grow in a peaceful non-violent home environment has been awarded €16,000 in government funding.
Clare Haven Services, which is based in Ennis, is one of dozens of organisations across the country which are to share funding totalling more than €7.7m.
All of the organisations offer support to and assist victims of crime.
Announced by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, some of the funding will be made through the new agency for domestic, sexual and gender based violence Cuan, which was recently opened.
In addition to including organisations such as Clare Haven Services, the funding also covers national and larger organisations such as Dublin Rape Crisis Network, Women’s Aid, Men’s Aid, and Safe Ireland.
“Victims of crime need supports and services of a high standard, right across the country, and this increased funding, which I secured in the Budget, will ensure that they get that. I am delighted too that our new agency Cuan, will be allocating much of the funding to the various organisations. Its establishment, as well as initiatives such as ‘Supporting a Victim’s Journey’ demonstrates just how committed we are, to building a victim-centred criminal justice system," said Ms McEntee.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne added: “It is essential that we demonstrate respect and understanding for each victim’s unique experience. The shock, trauma, and even feelings of guilt, can be extremely heavy burdens for victims of crime to carry, but the additional supports we are announcing today will further reinforce the range of supports and services available to them.
“The ‘Supporting a Victim’s Journey’ initiative prioritises the needs and experience of the victim and the Government is committed to continue other victim-centred programmes, including our Victims’ Forum. It provides an important platform for many of the organisations working in this area to share their learnings from supporting victims of crime in order to help us tailor the funding and policy decisions necessary to strengthen how victims and survivors are treated.”
Last September, the Department of Justice invited applications from registered charities, voluntary community groups, and other organisations which provide services – or plan to provide services – supporting victims in the criminal justice system.
Applicants for the call included organisations that provide support, information and advice on the rights of victims, outreach work, court accompaniment and crime victim helplines.
A wide range of organisations are being funded, providing both general and specialist services to victims of crime.
Minister McEntee added: “We know that the needs of victims of crime can differ depending on their individual circumstances and tailoring supports to meet those individual needs is the most effective approach."