Rape centres face increasing funding crisis

FURTHER evidence of the funding crisis hitting services for rape and abuse victims has emerged with the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) revealing its members have less than two-thirds the budget they need to survive.

RCNI executive director Fiona Neary said cutbacks, curtailment of services and increasing dependence on charity were the norm for the 16 rape crisis centres it represents around the country .

“Services are not being extended where they need to be extended, local helplines are working restricted hours, services are dependent on volunteers and staff are not getting annual pay increases,” she said.