Victims groups 'need more money'

Commissioners Mike Nesbitt, Patricia MacBride, Bertha McDougal and Brendan McAllister

People affected by the Troubles have "muddled along" for 40 years, the NI Victims Commission has said.

Commissioners said victims' groups needed long term funding to serve people's needs.

The commissioners said there "needed to be big changes" so that £36m, made available for victims between now and 2011, was spent properly.

One of the commissioners, Mike Nesbitt, said a "big problem" was caused by short-term funding of victims' groups.

"That leads to poor planning and instability," Mr Nesbitt said.

The commissioners said they would prefer to see such groups funded for a three-year term.

They added that victims had not been consulted on how health and social care legislation might be tailored to their needs.