(Limerick East): First, I thank the Minister for coming into the House at an inconvenient time this evening. I am aware that he is exceptionally busy at present.
The reason I raise this issue is that I was unhappy with the reply I received from the Minister to a question I had put down for written answer. I asked the Minister for Health if he would outline Government policy on funding the various rape crisis centres throughout the country. The reply simply listed the block grants which were being made available to the rape crisis centres and did not give any indication of what the Government's policy was. It was the policy issue that I was interested in rather than the amounts of the capital grants which were being allocated.
We have become increasingly conscious of the horrific crime of rape during the past few years. This House has on two occasions amended the law in relation to rape during a period of ten years. The frequency at which newspaper reports have appeared on this crime would seem to indicate that the law is being applied and that charges are being brought more frequently now but while the full rigour of the law will bring rapists to justice it is not enough for the unfortunate victims. The rape crisis centres are fulfilling a very useful function and are publicly recognised for their valuable contribution in counselling victims of rape and sexual abuse.
In this context it is time the question of funding was put on a regular budgetary basis. It is no longer good enough that organisations in different parts of the country who supply, voluntarily, such a valuable service should have a hand to mouth financial existence. I am sure the Minister is aware, as I am, that many of the people involved in the rape crisis centres spend a considerable amount of their time fund raising when their time could be better spent in carrying out counselling and support functions for rape victims. The Minister will be aware that everything from concerts to discos and other fund raising activities are being indulged in.
I would like the Minister to do a number of things. First, I would like him to make it a matter of policy that the funding of the rape crisis centres would become a normal item of Government expenditure through the Department of Health and that there would be a separate subhead in the annual Estimates. Second, there should not be a question mark on a year to year basis over funding. They start each year not knowing whether they will get any funds but they hope that the practice of previous years will be followed. This is not sufficient in planning the work they are involved in. I appeal to the Minister therefore to put on a regular basis the question of funding of the rape crisis centres in all the towns where they are located. I understand there is a centre in Tralee which according to this reply will not receive any funding this year. There should be an ongoing policy in relation to the arrangements being made to remove the uncertainty so that they would know where they stand and those in charge could plan both for the medium and long term. Naturally they would also like a major increase in funding to be provided as well as taking the uncertainty out of it.
I have no doubt the Minister fully understands the points I made and I appreciate he came to the House to deal with the issue.
