Over 100 rape victims wait on therapy

The biggest rape crisis centre in the country had more than 100 victims of past rape and childhood sexual abuse on a waiting list to receive therapy at the end of 2014.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop said this was a “wholly unacceptable situation” and was due to both funding cutbacks and increased demand for help.

It comes as Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI), an umbrella body for 11 of the country’s 16 rape crisis centres, again criticised Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for cutting its €250,000 funding completely.

Commenting on the RCNI cuts at the launch of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s report for 2014, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said it was a decision that Tusla had made and what was important was that there were “no cuts to funding frontline rape crisis service”.

In the annual report, Ms O’Malley-Dunlop said 2014 was a “very difficult year” for the agency following seven years of cuts.

“While victims of recent rape are responded to appropriately, other victims of sexual violence — including victims of childhood sexual abuse — have had to wait for longer periods before being seen by a therapist.”

Angela McCarthy, head of clinical service, said they lost two therapists due to cutbacks in 2013. She said the therapy team “struggled to handle” the increase in the number of new clients in 2014 — with a 71% increase in recent rape and sexual assaults.

She said the assessment waiting list was closed twice in 2014: In February, when there were 65 people on the list, and in September, when there were 60 people. It stayed open over Christmas and New Year and the waiting list grew to 80 in mid-December and 100 shortly after.

Ms O’Malley-Dunlop said: “By the end of 2014 the waiting list had grown to over 100 victims waiting for services, which is a wholly unacceptable situation.”

She said 2015 was the first time in seven years the funding had not been cut. She welcomed the commitment of Tusla to invest in the rape crisis sector, but pointed out that its funding from Tusla only covered 60% of costs.

Meanwhile, the RCNI rejected claims from Tusla that funding that was going to it was bound for frontline counselling services.

“There is no evidence that any money has been diverted from RCNI to rape crisis centres,” said RCNI acting director Cliona Saidlear.

“Tusla are putting extra resources into employing their own administrative layer with four new posts relating to sexual violence. This can hardly be called diverting money to the front line.”

She said it was “untrue” to say the RCNI did not provide frontline services, which, she said, they did.

Ms Saidlear said it was crucial for survivors that they had an independent and safe advocacy group, one that had the country’s main database on sexual violence.

Ms Fitzgerald defended Tusla’s decision: “What’s very clear is that Tusla is completely committed to collecting data in the most efficient and most nationwide way it needs to be collected, and that is the decision they have taken. What’s important is that there’s no cuts to funding of frontline rape crisis services.”

She said funding for frontline services had been maintained this year and, with a recovery under way and increased demand for services, there will be more investment in the future.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre helpline: 1800 778888