Vol. 441 No. 3
44 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to provide funding for the sexual assault unit at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin 1, in view of the important work carried out by the unit, the increasing workload and the fact that it is currently under-resourced.
The funding for the sexual assault treatment unit is provided from the annual revenue allocation for the Rotunda Hospital. The service provided by the sexual assault treatment unit has recently been the subject of a detailed review by my Department and the Rotunda Hospital. This review sought views from a range of organisation involved in the area of sexual assault. The organisations consulted included the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, the Garda Síochána, the Eastern Health Board and the Forensic Science Laboratory.
Further to this review, a framework for the future development of the unit has been prepared and agreed by the Rotunda Hospital and my Department. In this context, sanction has issued for an increase in the rates of remuneration of general practitioners associated with the unit.
It is also envisaged that a consultant gynaecologist would be appointed to the unit in order to broaden the level of professional medical expertise available to it and to ensure that all the services of the Rotunda Hospital are put fully at the disposal of persons attending the unit.
