Department, Tusla, and HSE see sobering image of abuse supports

While described as a new service, Barnahus West was set up in September 2019, although it wasn’t until November 2020 that it was in a position to start taking referrals

Then children’s minister Katherine Zappone, centre, then justice minister Charlie Flanagan, and then Childrens Hospital Group CEO Eilis Hardiman officially launched the Barnahus Onehouse Galway pilot project in 2019.

Given the State’s shameful history in tackling child sexual abuse, €1.2m doesn’t seem like a lot of money.

When you consider the scale of the current need, it seems hard to believe officials have to request this level of funding a second time.