The State spent just €200,000 on its highly secretive Witness Protection Programme (WPP) in 2019, despite being allocated a budget of €1.2m - according to data released to the Sunday Independent. In 2018 €653,000 was spent on the programme, compared with €800,000 in 2017, while in 2016 more money was spent on the programme than in any other year since 2006, when €1.32m was used. The WPP is for those whose lives are left in danger after giving evidence in court against dangerous criminals. The WPP was set up in 1997 to combat attempts by criminals "to prevent the normal functioning of the criminal justice system", including threats of violence and intimidation of witnesses.