Emergency units to treat the victims of rape and sexual abuse promised by the Government two years ago have still not opened, it emerged today.
Minister of State for Health John Moloney said he could not explain why the units have not opened after €2.4 million was set aside for them in 2006.
The two units were due to be opened in Galway and Mullingar so people in the West and Midlands did not have to travel to Dublin for emergency treatment.
Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop, chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC), said she was in the dark about the delays.
“There has just been one delay after another, and to be quite honest at this stage we don’t know why they haven’t come on stream,” she said.
She also warned against grant cuts to its service because of the economic downturn, calling such a move unthinkable.“We would like to see the monies made available in the 2006 Budget announcement to continue to be ring-fenced for rape crisis centres and refugees,” she said.
Mr Moloney, attending the DRCC’s awareness campaign launch, said he could not explain the delay.
The junior minister insisted the €2.4 million has been ring-fenced and said he would raise the issue with the Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Mr Moloney promised Government financial support for the DRCC despite its funding being cut by 1 per cent by the Health Service Executive in July.
Ms O’Malley-Dunlop added: “We cannot sustain any further cuts particularly now when our fundraising has become so difficult.
“If we were to have any more cuts from the Government it would be unthinkable.”
The DRCC received 10,000 calls to its helpline last year - an average of 27 calls every day.
PA