VICTIMS of rape and sexual abuse are waiting four months for counselling in some parts of the country because of a lack of funding.

Michael Brennan

The eight-hour waiting time for rape victims in the South East has been eliminated by a new sexual assault treatment unit, it emerged today.

THE Waterford Rape Crisis Centre has called for an increased level of government funding after revealing that victims of rape and sexual abuse must wait four months for support services.

SOME rape victims have to wait up to 11 hours to be examined because of a shortage of doctors trained to gather forensic evidence.