Galway West Deputy Frank Fahey has called on the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide a temporary sexual assault treatment unit in the city immediately, after the HSE confirmed the unit will not now open in Galway until next year at the earliest.

Deputy Fahey was at the forefront of the campaign to open the unit in Galway while he was Minister of State with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. He announced in April that the long-awaited unit would open its doors by October this year. However, this has now been pushed back until early 2008.

This week, the HSE announced two new sexual assault treatment units (SATU) at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar and University College Hospital, Galway, to ‘significantly improve the care and aftercare provided to sexual assault victims’.

However, the review recommending the establishment of a SATU in Galway was finalised in 2005 and launched by the Department of Health in 2006. In April, Deputy Fahey said it was "completely unacceptable" that victims of sexual assault and rape had to travel long distances to get treatment and anticipated the unit would open in October. Now it won’t open its doors until 2008.

Due to the delay, Deputy Fahey has requested that the HSE open a temporary sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) in the city as soon as possible. Speaking to the Galway Independent, Deputy Fahey said that while he welcomes the opening of the unit in 2008, he is “disappointed that it won’t be available this year” and has “asked the HSE to provide a temporary service in the interim”.

While disappointed at the delay, Deputy Fahey is confident the €1.5 million funding allocated for the Galway unit this year is being spent on capital and training. The Galway SATU will be a consultant led service, which will promote multidisciplinary work involving Gardaí, medical personnel, rape crisis counsellors and friend and family support. The unit will cater for both children and adult female and male victims.

A spokesperson for the Galway Rape Crisis Centre said it is “essential” the sexual assault treatment unit opens in Galway.

“The State cannot meet its responsibility to pursue justice in rape and sexual assault cases without a forensic medical facility. While it is taking longer than expected, we are delighted the SATU will be open in 2008 and we continue to work with the multi-agency group,” said the spokesperson. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Fahey said he has met with Finance Minister and Tánaiste Brian Cowen and Health Minister Mary Harney in order to allocate extra money to the Galway Rape Crisis Centre provided in last year’s budget.

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