The Department of Health in a statement issued this afternoon said it hoped its officials would meet with One in Four later this week to discuss funding for the organisation.
The statement follows the announcement earlier today by the organisation that it would close on October 31st because the Department of Health had reneged on its funding commitments to the organisation.
It says: "The Department of Health has fully supported the establishment of the One in Four organisation. Since the commencement of investigations in April, 2002 into the handling of allegations of abuse in the Diocese of Ferns the Department has provided 633,000 in funding to the organisation from May 2002 to date.
"Officials from the Department of Health & Children would hope to meet with representatives of One in Four later this week to discuss their concerns.
"The Department of Health and Children provides counselling through the National Counselling Service for victims of all types of abuse.
The costs of counselling incurred by the Department from 1999 to date amounts to €17m. The National Counselling Service will see all victims of childhood abuse and it is open to One in Four to refer victims to that Service. "
However, Ms Liz McManus, Labour Party spokeswoman on Health, described the Department's actions in relation to One in Four as "odd" and called on the Government to immediately make up the shortfall.
"One in Four has been one of the most successful groups assistingvictims of sexual abuse and it would be a real tragedy if it were allowed to close," she said.
" . . .It seems extraordinary that the state is prepared to provide indemnityworth up to a billion euro to religious congregations that were, in manycases, responsible for the shocking abuse of children placed in their care, whileit is not prepared to provide the modest amounts necessary to allow anorganisation like One in Four to continue in operation."
The Green Party Education spokesperson, Mr Paul Gogarty, has also called on theMinister for Health and Children to reconsider his position on One in Four.
"The One in Four group provides essential services to victims of abuse.Cutting back on funding at this time sends out the entirely wrong message," he said.
"Given the embarrassment caused by the Laffoy resignation and the publicscrutiny over the indemnity deal, this is a further slap in the face forvictims of sexual abuse.
"The Government have shown that they are either totally uncaring or absolutely incompetent. Steps must be taken to allow the One in Four group to continue their work."