RCNI Press Release 19th April 2010

RCNI welcome national SATU developments and remain deeply concerned at on-going lack of funding for RCCs to deliver expert support to victims.

Susan Miner, RCNI Services Director said, ‘it is unacceptable that while the SATU in Donegal is now more accessible, and nurses trained as clinical forensic examiners are available, the local rape crisis centre has no funding in order to provide expert psychological support for victims. Like rape crisis centres through-out the country, Donegal RCC is today in fact in a worse position as a result on on-going cuts by the HSE and is now expected to provide additional services on even less funding.

The RCNI today calls on the HSE to immediately make funding available to Donegal RCC so that expert support can be provided to rape victims attending the SATU unit. We call for the immediate ring-fencing of funding to all rape crisis centres across the country.

SATUs make an enormous different to rape victims, both in their recovery from rape and in their decision-making about reporting to Gardai. The RCNI welcome that Minister Harney and the HSE have ensured improvements in recent years.

The launch of the SATU (Sexual Assault Treatment Units) Annual Report highlights service developments for which we have long campaigned. In 2009 two new SATUs opened in Mullingar and Galway. This is of enormous significance for sexual violence victims in the west and the midlands who now have less distance to travel to access expert medical and forensic examinations. We know from experience that long travel distances discourage victims from accessing services. All of these developments mean that SATUs are more accessible for victims and that the state’s ability to respond appropriately in the aftermath of sexual violence has been increased. Simultaneously, RCCs are experiencing on-going cut backs to already severely under-funded services as increasing numbers of victims contact RCCs for support.

SATUs across Ireland remain in high demand. For example, in the latter half of 2009 the Rape Crisis Centre in Tullamore has provided crisis intervention, support and advocacy to one victim per week in the recently opened Mullingar SATU. Victims in this part of the country can and are accessing the full range of professional services and support available in a SATU which is within easy traveling distance. No survivor of sexual violence should be without this service.

Eight trained nurses are now available to provide clinical forensic examinations around the country. The SATU is Letterkenny is open more hours per week.

These developments happened on foot of a review of SATU services around the country which was published in 2006. The next step in that review is an examination to determine what gaps still exist around the country. One of the recommendations in the recently published sexual violence attrition research Rape & Justice in Ireland is that there be a SATU within 80 kilometres of anyone in the country.

In addition to the two new SATUs, there is a Sexual Assault Treatment Service operating in Limerick. Last year that service was accessed by approximately 40 victims. Completing the necessary steps for this Service to fully function as a SATU, and the re-opening of the previously existing Service in Kerry as a SATU would be one step closer to meeting the recommendation of one SATU within 80 kilometres of anyone in the country.

We continue to require a ring-fenced budget to allow for the on-going functioning of such vital services.
We would particularly like to thank Minister Mary Harney for playing such a key role in keeping the provision of SATU services, and the funding for those services, on the agenda, particularly in such tight economic times.

End.