Madam, - Margaret Martin of Women's Aid states that "Government funding to all services for women affected by violence is in fact merely €12 million"(January 19th). The luxury of being able to use the adverb "merely" in relation to €12 million will not be lost on the many underfunded groups struggling to provide services for various other people in need, including male victims of domestic violence. Moreover, her statement is incorrect.
According to Minister of State Frank Fahy (Seanad debate, October 13th, 2005) the Department of Health alone provides €12 million (increased from €4 million in 1998); presumably this is the money referred to by Ms Martin. A cursory examination of the information given in response to a Dáil question from Tommy Broughan TD (April 12th, 2005) shows that at least a further (mere?) €3.5 million was given by other Government Departments in supports for victims of violence against women.
Ms Martin's statement that "Government funding to this sector has remained at that level since 2002" also appears to be incorrect. Funding from the Department of Justice for "violence against women" increased by 102 per cent in 2004 and a further 39 per cent in 2005 (Department of Finance website).
The €15.5 million identified above is by no means the total amount given for services to this sector from Government funds. Exchequer funding is channelled from various other sources, such as State and semi-State bodies and Government-funded NGOs. and under various headings, e.g. section 65, lottery grants, equality for women, gender mainstreaming, etc. It would be a mammoth task for an experienced researcher to find out the total amount given to this sector from all sources.
In contrast to the "mere" €12 million granted by the Department of Health for violence against women the same Department gave just €50,000 to Amen for services to male victims ("merely" 0.41 per cent of the amount given for female victims). In view of all the evidence now available showing that a considerable number of men and their children are also victims of domestic violence, this contemptuous discrimination against male victims is indefensible. - Yours, etc,
MARY T CLEARY, Amen, Railway Street, Navan, Co Meath.