We know that workers and organisations in the community and voluntary sector provide essential supports to victims and survivors of sexual, domestic and gender-based violence. Yet organisations under sections 39, 56 and 10 are continuing to suffer from severe uncertainty in terms of their finances because of the Government's failure to clarify matters. As of last week, Cuan, which is the Minister's Department’s statutory agency tasked with reducing the incidence of gender-based violence, had made no contact with more than 70 organisations it funds. We understand the Department of justice, the Minister's Department, was supposed to release funding to Cuan to pay the organisations so they could pay their workers and staff. Moneys were meant to be paid by 1 October to go to payroll this month. We understand that has not come through. Can the Minister, as the line Minister, explain to those who work for such organisations providing such vital services why they are not being paid on time during a cost-of-living crisis? Why has there, apparently, been no sanction for this money from the Departments of justice or public expenditure? I think it is a very serious matter.

I thank the Deputy for raising that matter. It is opportune that she has done so, because on Monday morning, I met with the chair and chief executive of Cuan. There was an event in the Department in respect of a launch by Cuan and I had an opportunity to meet with the chair and chief executive in advance. They informed me of issues in respect of the funding of Cuan itself and other issues in the sector too. Obviously, Cuan has been extremely well funded since it was set up by my predecessor last year. A lot of funding has gone into it. I obviously want to prioritise the continuance of the protection of women from domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and I recognise that to do that these services and agencies in the community have to be funded. I will seek to continue to engage with Cuan in respect of this issue. I am not fully aware if funds have not been released by Cuan. If it has the funds, I have no doubt it will release them. I will, obviously, engage with Cuan in respect of this matter.