Dáil debates
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Topical Issue Debate
Counselling Services
4:50 pm
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Rape Crisis Network Ireland, RCNI, is a specialist information and resource centre on rape and all forms of sexual violence. It is the umbrella body for member rape crisis centres which provide free advice, counselling and support for survivors of sexual abuse. There is real concern about the future of RCNI as its funding is due to cease at the end of March and that a tendering process for services is proposed when an invaluable service with a proven track record is already available in RCNI.
RCNI is responsible for the development of a national database which is essential in developing policy objectives and service responses. These data represent the collective story of the survivors who have utilised rape crisis services and are a vital tool in working to end sexual violence and providing the best possible service for survivors.
RCNI represents member rape crisis centres on important committees such as the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women and its sub-committees, the regional advisory committees and the Commission for the Support of Victims of Crime. Its representation on these committees ensures survivors' voices are heard at a national level. It partners with Foróige, the national youth organisation, to deliver the integrated youth development programme REAL U.
RCNI is responsible for the development of the best practice model signed up to by all member rape crisis centres. All rape crisis centres sign service level agreements with the HSE which require compliance with Children First. RCNI monitors member rape crisis centres to ensure each centre is compliant in meeting all Children First requirements and ensures all rape crisis centre boards have adopted best practice standards not just in respect of Children First but in all policies.
RCNI is responsible for providing member rape crisis centres with specialised training for both staff and volunteers around court and Garda accompaniment. It has a dedicated expert and specialist resource to support a wide programme of work to obtain justice for the victims of sexual violence. It provides rape crisis centres with the opportunity to interact with each other, allowing them to learn from each, support and help each other, share resources and ideas and inspire each other.
If funding for RCNI is discontinued at the end of March as has been signalled, it will, in turn, have a seriously negative impact on individual rape crisis centres and the survivors who use their services. larraim ar an Rialtas gan maoiniú a ghearradh don eagras fíor-fiúntach agus tábhachtach seo. Tá RCNI ag cabhrú le lár-ionaid ar fud na tíre atá ag tacú le daoine a d'fhulaing éigniú. Beidh sé scanallach má leanann an Rialtas ar aghaidh leis an chiorrú seo. In ainm na ndaoine atá ag braith ar an seirbhís seo, ná dean é.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I have a reply from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs who, unfortunately, is out of the country. She asks me to apologise to the Deputy for being unable to attend the debate and is grateful to the Deputy for putting this matter on the agenda of Dáil Éireann. I will not read out the first page of the reply because we know about the Child and Family Agency which I think we all support and the work it is doing in the provision of domestic and sexual violence services.
As part of the establishment of the new Child and Family Agency, a dedicated position of programme manager for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence has been created. I understand the new programme manager took up the position in early February this year. I also understand the HSE spent over €17 million on the provision of domestic and sexual violence services.
This included the funding of 60 services and centres throughout the country comprising €10 million for 20 crisis refuges, more than €4 million for 16 rape crisis centres and almost €3.5 million for 24 support services.
Rape Crisis Network Ireland received funding of €256,000 from the HSE in 2013. The financial statements for 2012 indicate that the organisation received total income of more than €650,000, including €256,000 from the HSE. Rape Crisis Network Ireland had a two year service level agreement with the HSE which expired on 31 December 2013, but which was extended to 31 March 2014 to allow for the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, the appointment of a programme manager for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services, and to enable the agency to tender for future support services to support front-line agencies. The recently appointed programme manager responsible for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services is working with the head of procurement in the agency to establish a tender process, due to begin in September, for longer-term provision of support to front-line agencies from 2015. The process will be open to all qualified providers, including Rape Crisis Network Ireland, to tender for this new contract.
The Minister for Children and Youth affairs discussed the issue of funding of Rape Crisis Network Ireland with Gordon Jeyes, who is the CEO of the Child and Family Agency. It has been decided to commission specific projects from a number of providers during 2014, including Rape Crisis Network Ireland, and discussions regarding these contracts are in train. In allocating funding for support activities to front-line services in 2014, the focus is on activities that will enhance the capacity of the agency to ensure front-line services are supported in the delivery of high quality effective services. I assure the Deputy and the House that funding is ring-fenced to provide front-line services in this area and there are no plans to reduce supports to key services.
5:00 pm
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State and appreciate that the Minister is not in the country, and that he is delivering the reply on her behalf.
I appreciate it will not be possible to get into the nitty-gritty of this, but it seems to me that for a part of this year we will not know who will fulfil the critical function that RCNI has fulfilled very effectively during its tenure, to my best knowledge. A process will now get under way with the signalled conclusion more than six months away, when a decision will be taken on funding supports for the provision as and from 2015 of the services that RCNI has fulfilled. I am very concerned about the here and now. This is not a matter we can move about on a chess board or anything else. It is of such serious and immediate import that we must have permanently in place the overarching role that RCNI has clearly played as a critical umbrella force on behalf of the rape crisis centres across this land.
I can only urge the Minister of State to use his own good offices with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to appeal for every consideration to be given to the role of the RCNI and to its continuance at least during any so-called interregnum period. Those from rape crisis centres who have been in touch with me would favour RCNI being able to continue to carry out its particular role and service. I have no reason to dispute that. If those who are at the coalface of the provision of supports to victims of sexual violence have absolute confidence in RCNI, then I believe their opinion must count for something.
Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I very much appreciate the remarks of Deputy Ó Caoláin concerning the very important role RCNI plays. I am aware of that. Without understanding a huge amount of the reasoning behind this, it probably comes down to the fact that since 1 January 2014, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs took over responsibility in this area instead of the Minister for Justice and Equality. It falls under her remit because the Child and Family Agency is within her Department. From a good governance perspective, it is important that where the State is grant aiding organisations, it does so in a clear, transparent way. It would seem that the new director believes the appropriate way to channel the very significant resource, which is not diminishing in any way, is in a way which effectively invites tenders again for longer-term funding rather than the kind of annual funding which most organisations feel to be unfair to them.
The question the Deputy raises is the here and now, as the funding envelope finishes at the end of March and he wants to know what will happen between now and September. The key issue is whether there can be any retrospection when the issue comes, because I do not want to interfere with the tendering process, nor does he. It probably is fair that there should be some interregnum period while the tendering is taking place for accessibility of funding. The Deputy is wondering what happens between now and September, and I would be confident of its later continuation and support. I will raise this issue specifically with the Minister to see exactly what additional support can be given between now and September.