Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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191. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify how long forensic evidence collected in relation to the reporting of sexual assault is stored to enable the survivor to proceed with a prosecution at a future date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25124/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware there are six Sexual Assault Treatment Units throughout Ireland, located in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Mullingar, Letterkenny, and Waterford. Each unit aims to provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and respond within 3 hours. This is to ensure that people can access care in a timely fashion, as set out in the 2023 publication - SATUNational Guidelines on Referral and Forensic Clinical Examination Following Rape and Sexual Assault.

One of the services provided by Sexual Assault Treatment Units is examination and the collection of forensic evidence. This evidence can then be provided to the Gardaí for processing by Forensic Science Ireland at Garda Headquarters. This evidence can be securely stored in Sexual Assault Treatment Units for up to one year, providing people with time to decide whether or not they wish to report to An Garda Siochána. There is also an opportunity for individuals to request to extend the period of storage, should they wish to do so.

The Government has always been very clear that – regardless of the circumstances in which sexual violence has occurred – a victim of these crimes can and should report their experience to An Garda Síochána. The implementation of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy(2022 – 2026), as well as the completion of a range of other projects across many Government Departments, will be essential towards achieving the aim of reducing sexual crime. Responsibility for responding to sexual violence is shared across Government.