Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
223. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans his Department has to expand funding for the Barnhaus or OneHouse model of therapeutic treatment for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15397/23]
View answerI thank the Deputy for her question and I am pleased to report progress on the development of the national Barnahus model of service for children who have experienced sexual abuse and their families.
The Icelandic Barnahus model is a child-friendly, interdisciplinary and multiagency model of service that brings child protection, policing, medical, therapeutic and forensic services together, under one roof, to provide services for children who experience sexual abuse and their families.
This model is being adapted to an Irish context, with an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) leading on this initiative. The IDG comprises representation from my Department, the Departments of Health and Justice, and the key service delivery agencies -Tusla , An Garda Siochána, HSE and Children's Health Ireland (CHI).
A pilot service was launched in September 2019 in Galway. The service began receiving referrals in November 2020, and services are operational in a bespoke centre on the outskirts of Galway city. This allows the three agencies (Tusla, the HSE, An Garda Siochána) to provide services for children under one roof. Key professionals in child protection, health care and An Gardaí Síochána meet regularly to review cases of child sexual abuse and plan the steps that need to be taken.
In Ireland, the Barnahus model provides for a range of services, including health services, and mental health services and treatment for victims of sexual abuse. These services are provided by professionals with specialised training and expertise. Professionals work with the child in the Barnahus service during the initial crisis phase, and have a role in the identification of therapeutic pathways. If required, a referral is made to existing community-based services for the provision of additional interventions. It should be noted that overall responsibility for mental health services lies with the Department of Health.
At present funding in the region of €1.262m is available to support the implementation of the Barnahus model of service delivery in Ireland. This includes funding awarded under the Dormant Accounts Fund.
My Department has also been awarded financial and technical support from the EU and the Council of Europe under the Technical Support Instrument, to help expand the Barnahus model in Ireland. In addition to Barnahus West in Galway, it is intended that two further locations in the East and South will provide national coverage and access for victims and families to the service. The EU/Council of Europe co-funded project recently commenced, and the project’s Inception Report will be published in April which will guide the next phase of the project.
