I am anxious to ensure there is no threat to the sexual assault treatment unit at the Rotunda Hospital. There is certainly no threat from me or my Department to close the unit, neither is there a threat from the Rotunda Hospital to close it. The reverse is true. Both the Rotunda Hospital and my Department are very anxious to ensure that not only does this very important service continue but that it is enhanced. The Deputy will be aware of the significant moneys I made available for services in the treatment of rape victims. I will announce this year's allocation during the coming weeks which will be a significant increase on that of last year and will represent a greater spread of resources across the board.
I will outline some of the background to the unit. It was established in 1985 for the forensic examination, medical examination and treatment of sexual assault and rape victims.
The service provided by the unit has recently been the subject of a detailed review by my Department and the Rotunda Hospital. That review sought views from a range of organisations involved in the area of sexual assault. The organisations consulted included the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the Garda Sochána, the Eastern Health Board and the Forensic Science Laboratory. There was a strong wish among all the parties consulted that duplication be avoided and that a co-ordinated approach be adopted which would integrate all the various service elements now provided. That would ensure that each organisation knows the role which it is expected to perform. Each organisation can then get on with the business of providing a high quality and effective service in the area assigned to it. It is in this type of situation that the person receiving the service is provided with the best possible arrangements and supports.
It is considered that the sexual assault treatment unit should concentrate its work on providing a frontline acute service to deal with cases of sexual assault and/or rape of recent occurrence and provide those cases with a high quality service for forensic examination. Arising out of the review a framework document setting out the principles which should govern the future development of the unit was sent last week to the Rotunda Hospital by my Department.
As part of the review, the remuneration of the general practitioners who work in the unit was dealt with. In a letter of 25 March 1994 to the Master of the Rotunda Hospital from my Department, sanction was given for an increase in the rates of remuneration of 36 per cent for standby rate, 33 per cent for Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday standby rate and 36 per cent for first call-in fee with an increase of 70 per cent for a subsequent visit.
It is also envisaged that a consultant gynaecologist would be appointed to the unit to broaden the level of professional medical expertise available to it and to ensure that all the services of the Rotunda Hospital are fully at the disposal of persons attending the unit.
I am pleased to report that these proposals for the enhancement of the service at the unit have been sanctioned. I cannot let this occasion pass, however, without expressing my disappointment at the way in which misleading information has been circulated in a manner which can only undermine a most important service. However, I am happy to have the opportunity to put the record straight.
The Dáil adjourned at 9.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 12 April 1994.
