Vol. 546 No. 5
9 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which his Department provides assistance regarding missing persons; if his Department has ongoing dialogue with relatives; if particular initiatives are proposed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32111/01]
I fully understand and readily sympathise with the distress which families must face when a loved one goes missing and I have spoken in the House on many occasions on this subject. The provision of services or support facilities to the families of missing persons is not a function that would normally fall within the remit of my Department. However, in deference to concerns expressed on this matter, I instructed my Department to examine the issue.
While it is considered that the most appropriate way to provide these services is through the existing statutory services and the support of relevant voluntary organisations, it is accepted that the families of missing persons may need some single contact point where they will be offered relevant advice and support. Preliminary discussions have been held between my Department and two voluntary organisations about the establishment of such a service. It is envisaged that the service will provide a helpline offering advice, counselling and referral and will include structured liaison with the Garda. I am pleased to report that my Department has been allocated 70,000 in the recent budget to establish the helpline. It is anticipated that the helpline will be in operation in 2002 and will complement the range of services already being provided by the Garda to the families of missing persons.
