Sexual assault unit’s future is secure after crux sorted

Assurances have been given that the city-based Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment unit will not close again, after its doors were shut throughout March.

The unit – which assessed and treated 70 children in 2015 alone – had closed its doors at the end of February after a breakdown in talks between staff and the HSE.

It re-opened last week, with the HSE stating they were ”happy to announce that a resolution has been reached with the forensic examiners who provide the Child and Adolescent Sexual Assault Treatment Service based in Galway”.

At the end of February, staff said they were forced to withdraw services after the continued refusal by the HSE to “recognise and fund integral components of a safe, quality assured and sustainable service”.

Medical practitioners working at the centre cited their dissatisfaction with the HSE for their refusal to “recognise and fund examination of and support for children referred from Tusla and Social Services without active Garda involvement”.

Paediatricians recommended providing ten funded hours per month (2.5 hours per week), at a cost of €100,000 per annum – almost double the CASATS service budget of €112,000. Disputes arose after the figure was outright rejected by the HSE.

The closure was raised in the Dáil last week by newly-elected Galway West TD Catherine Connolly.

“That such an essential service which assessed/treated 70 children alone in 2015 was lurching from closure to threatened closure was not acceptable and should never be allowed happen again. The confirmation that arrangements have now been put in place to ensure that it will not close again is good news.

“The unit, which opened its 24-hour service in Galway in 2011, is absolutely essential, given the prevalence of sexual assault and violence in the community – statistics which unfortunately have been repeatedly confirmed.

“Given the findings of the various reports into child sexual abuse including the Ryan Report, the Murphy Report and the Roscommon Enquiry, the closure of a dedicated Sexual Assault Unit for children under 14 years of age simply beggars belief.

“It is all the more unacceptable given the enormous effort it took to have the unit opened in the first place. As a member of the Regional Health Forum since 2006, I continually campaigned for the establishment of this service.

“The unit finally opened in 2009 but did not offer any service outside of office hours. Following further pressure from both the medical personnel and politically, a full 24-hour service was set up in 2011 in a rented building in Parkmore industrial estate,” said Deputy Connolly.

She said the HSE now needs to expedite the unit’s relocation to the grounds of Merlin Park.

“It is now time to move forward and examine the construction of a permanent premises in Merlin Park. The HSE West confirmed in February that a brief is currently in the end stages of development for a purpose-built facility on the grounds of Merlin Park.

“It will require, however, an application to be submitted to the National Capital Approval Committee for approval and this is a matter I will be closely monitoring,” she said.

Dr Joanne Nelson, one of the founding paediatricians, said she was “delighted that the unit has resumed full service following agreement and funding to meet minimum standards for best practice.”

Tony Canavan, the HSE Chief Officer for Community Services in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon said: “We are happy that we have been able to come to an agreement with the team who provide this service. We would like to acknowledge that this is the only 24-hour service in Ireland where young victims of sexual abuse or alleged rape can be forensically examined.”