Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I call for immediate action on the development of the sexual assault treatment unit in Kerry General Hospital. The unit in Kerry is in difficulty due to the lack of resources at the hospital. A working group consisting of Kerry General Hospital, Tralee gardaí and the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre has come up with proposals to solve this difficulty and has reached an agreement with the hospital. The group needs to raise €47,284 for on-call nursing staff. If this funding can be raised, it will be in a position to offer a 24-hour sexual assault treatment unit in Kerry General Hospital.

Currently, there is only one 24-hour sexual assault unit in the Munster area, which is in Cork. A need was identified in Kerry for a sexual assault unit to ensure that victims of rape could be examined at Kerry General Hospital. A pilot scheme was undertaken in April 2002, which operated very successfully and 60 clients were seen and supported.

A decision was made in September 2004 to contact general practitioners in the Kerry region to provide trained doctors on an on-call rota to undertake the forensic medical examinations. A total of ten GPs were interested in undertaking the training. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform committed funding to the cost incurred in forensic examinations. Unfortunately, due to lack of resources to fund a nursing post and on-call nurses, this initiative could not take place.

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

Research shows that only one in ten people raped or sexually assaulted reports to the Garda. However, expecting people to travel to another county for the examination will result in even fewer rape victims reporting the crime. Research has also shown that when dedicated services are available an increase in reporting follows. One rape victim who did not want to report to the Garda told a counsellor in the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre that she felt very isolated as there was nowhere for her to go for a medical examination if she did not report. Another victim said she felt very uncomfortable having to go to Cork with gardaí.

It is the experience of counsellors in the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre that the majority of rape victims who had to travel to Cork for the forensic medical examination did not avail of counselling until months later. It is accepted that most people dealing with the aftermath of a rape want to feel safe, be somewhere familiar and have access to support. It is evident that having to travel to Cork does not meet these requirements. According to the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, the majority of rape victims examined in Kerry avail of counselling immediately after the incident, in stark contrast with rape victims who have to travel to Cork.

The development of the sexual assault unit at Kerry General Hospital ought to achieve an increase in current levels of reporting and an increased sense of safety for those who make the decision to report. There is a framework in place in Kerry for the delivery of a structured response that encompasses all aspects of care for rape victims. Commitment and co-operation is evident between all the agencies and access to training is provided for all personnel involved. The very experienced consultant gynaecologist there is highly skilled and experienced in forensic medical examinations for victims of rape. The Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre provides an on-call facility. These volunteers are highly trained and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The local Garda has been proactive for many years in developing a professional, sensitive service for rape victims, in keeping with best practice and agreed protocols. Trained female gardaí are available at all times to attend the forensic examination. The hospital has a dedicated space available for the examinations. This space is similar to examination suites used in the UK.

There is a strong commitment from all the agencies involved to have this valuable service available in Kerry. The arguments for the provision of such a service are supported by national and international research. Being supported, informed and kept informed is of critical importance to rape victims and can enhance the healing process.

I thank the Acting Chairman for his patience, as I have exceeded my time. Next weekend, the Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre will be co-ordinating the collection of signatures supporting its cause in Tralee, Killarney, Listowel and Dingle. The amount of funding requested is minuscule at €47,284. This situation should never have been allowed to arise, given that the amount of money involved is relatively small in the context of the overall health budget. I am asking for this matter to be resolved immediately. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Power, can make an announcement before Saturday, if possible.

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