Godfrey Timmins
Ceist:16 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health the number of rape crisis centres in the State; and the number in the south-eastern region. [9525/95]
Written Answers. - Rape Crisis Centres.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:19 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will make adequate funds available to the Waterford Rape Crisis Centre, both for capital and operating costs, in view of their considerable volume of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9523/95]
Godfrey Timmins
Ceist:36 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health the method of funding for rape crisis centres with regard to capital costs and day-to-day running costs. [9524/95]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 19 and 36 together.
In February 1995 I announced that I was making the sum of £907,000 available to the rape crisis and sexual abuse counselling centres/services throughout the country. This represented an increase of £250,000 or 38 per cent on the total level of funding provided from both the Department of Health and the health boards to the centres in 1994.
In pursuit of the recommendations of the report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women, published in 1993, I particularly made available funding to those health boards in whose areas there were no rape crisis or counselling centres to assist in the establishment of new services in these areas. I have also ensured that from now on, secure funding will be available to the centres through the health boards. Funding is in the form of a block grant based on the level of service provided from each centre.
In February 1995, there was a total of 14 centres. There is now a new centre in the process of being established in Tullamore, County Offaly.
There are four rape crisis and sexual abuse counselling centres in the South Eastern Health Board region in Clonmel, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. In 1995, the Waterford centre received an increase in funding of 45 per cent over the level of funding provided in 1994. I understand that the centre is in discussion with the South Eastern Health Board concerning its future service development.