Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this important issue.

Violence against women is extensive, pervasive and ongoing. Frontline services including rape crisis centres, refuges and support services are operating at a funding level, capped since 2002, which can only be described as severely inadequate to meet current needs. Such services were operating on a resource deficit in 2003 and the subsequent cap in funding occurred alongside increased demands for service delivery and new research which highlighted populations of victims who are not seeking help from dedicated support agencies. Various NGOs have recommended that current investment on dedicated, frontline responses to violence against women be increased by €7 million. This allocation should be ring-fenced for frontline service responses and their national bodies. Funding arrangements must also improve to alleviate the worst effects of the current inefficiencies.

Currently there are 40 locally based responses to domestic violence and 16 rape crisis centres. In June 2004, members of national networks were surveyed on direct State funding in 2003 and a total of 51 frontline services responded. Three quarters of all frontline service providers indicated there was no change to the level of funding they received from statutory sources in 2003 compared with 2002 and there has been no increase since then. Service providers described their inability to meet existing demand and pointed out that being overstretched automatically prevented them developing their services, particularly with regard to inaccessibility for certain populations. Service providers have not been able to deal with staff pay increases, the absence of pension provision, training of new volunteers and even applications from prospective volunteers. Service providers described cutting back key service areas, such as help line cover, which automatically reduces the accessibility of the service for existing and new clients.

Investment is urgently needed in this vital service. An article in the Irish Examiner today states that more than 1,000 women reported rape by a partner in 2004, a figure which clearly indicates the urgency with which this issue must be dealt. At this point, I wish to compliment all those involved in frontline services in rape crisis centres and refuges. The job is difficult and such people are doing magnificent work with very limited resources.

The failure of the Government to provide for a sexual assault treatment unit in Kerry is a very serious matter. Currently, there is only one such unit in the Munster area, in Cork. The need for a unit in Kerry was identified to ensure that victims of rape could be examined in Kerry General Hospital. A dedicated working group was set up, comprising medical staff, gardaí and the staff of the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre. A pilot scheme was undertaken in April 2002 and the service operated very successfully, despite having no resources allocated to it by the Government. A total of 60 clients were seen at the unit and supported. A decision was made in September 2004 to contact GPs in the Kerry region, with a view to having trained doctors on an on-call rota to undertake forensic medical examinations. Ten GPs expressed their interest in undertaking the training and being available. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform refunds the costs incurred in forensic examinations but, unfortunately, due to the lack of resources to fund a nursing post and on-call nurses, this initiative did not take place.

The genesis of a service is available but it is functioning at a low level entirely as a result of the lack of funding. Even with the existence of a sexual assault treatment unit in County Kerry, victims in remote parts of the county will have to travel for at least an hour. Victims are now reporting that they may have to travel to Cork for the examination, a six hour round trip. This is an unacceptable burden on those people who have been subjected to the most traumatic experience of rape. They are also required, at their own expense, to return to Cork for any follow-up treatment, which may involve four visits.

Funding was promised to the rape crisis centres but none has been made available for the sexual assault unit in Kerry. This is another broken promise from the Government and once again the most vulnerable are left to suffer.

See this speech in context