Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Difficult funding decisions have had to be made by Tusla with regard to funding or service provision. I understand that Rape Crisis Network Ireland, which is the representative body for rape crisis centres, as opposed to the service-provider, has had its funding ceased. The priority of both the Minister and Tusla was to protect front-line services within the funding available. The funding to Rape Crisis Network Ireland was in respect of the maintenance of a database incorporating data gathered and recorded by rape crisis workers who deal with the survivors of sexual abuse. Tusla had concerns about the database, in particular the fact that the data collected by RCNI from rape crisis centres is not readily available to Tusla and not fully representative of all services dealing with sexual abuse. As part of its statutory responsibilities for the provision of services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including information capability, a decision was taken to produce the data in-house in the future.

Tusla is developing a national specialist service for all sexual, domestic and gender-based violence services, to enable better outcomes for children and adults who survive such violence. It has appointed a national manager and eight additional staff to ensure a single line of accountability for all resources in this important area. It is very important that people realise the difference between the network and what is being done by the network, especially in this specific instance and by the rape crisis centres. Some speakers mixed up the situation and it is very important that it is clarified.