We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THERE WAS A significant increase in the number of people contacting seven rape crisis centres (RCCs) in Ireland last year, with 15,194 appointments made for those seeking counselling and support.
According to figures released by the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) today, there was a 22% increase in helpline calls to the network, with 71% of those calls lasting longer than average.
RCCs are currently experiencing waiting lists of many months as “they don’t have the funding or the staff to provide immediate counselling and support appointments”.
The seven RCNI member RCCs included in this report currently have 332 people on their waiting lists, and this figure is rising: “To put this in context this means that a survivor may be waiting well over a year to be assigned a counsellor”.
“However, we are still taking calls, and providing intermediate support calls until we can allocate a counsellor,” the report notes.
Survivors made contact through phone calls, texts, emails, contacts through social media, and letters.
Throughout 2020, RCNI saw significant increases every month when compared to 2019 except in October when contacts decreased by 12%. However, contact from survivors was up again by December – an increase of 34% when compared with December 2019.
83% of those contacting the 6 RCC helplines in this report were survivors of sexual violence (10,823 people), with the report noting that many people’s trauma was heightened due to the pandemic.
RCNI Executive Director, Dr Clíona Saidléar, told Morning Ireland that underfunding has left the centres struggling to address the growing waiting lists.
Dr Saidléar said the network is still operating on funding below ‘2008 levels’ which is making it difficult to train and retain new staff.
“We were offered funding to bring on counsellors for six months to address the waiting lists which are growing, unfortunately. But if we haven’t been training anyone for 10 years. Then there’s nobody out there to hire,” she said.
“The investment in sustainability and the infrastructure around or rape crisis centre is incredibly important as we head into this budget.”
A 24-hour helpline run by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre can be contacted on 1800 778 888, or you can find your closest centre here.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Just the mention of a debate gives poor Enda nightmares. Go for it.
‘Reform Alliance’ Ironic in that they are the most conservative ‘party’ in the Dail.
Is this the start of a New Political Party…I think we will have to watch this space…the time maybe right.
Mmm, yes. The time for a right wing, reactionary, religious fundamentalist party. Just what Ireland needs at the moment.
Fiona, in any political party you have various different views but they are all whipped together for party reasons,,imagine if we had a political party that was open and honest and let each member express their own views while still representing the general will of the people…..open and transparent with no hidden agendas or Spin . No FG, no FF just people representing people.
What you describe there are called independents Shane. We already have quite a few.
Why join a political party in the first place if you refuse to follow their policies? The whip system ensures that business is actually attended to, don’t like it then leave and run as an independent. These people want to have their cake and eat it too.
You want rampant gombeen politics, populism and nothing ever getting done and decided on because the individuals TDs are too terrified to defy their voter base? Than yeah, no whip system is good.
Could you imagine a government of independents? On second thoughs I’d rather not.
Our choices..FG they have done the nation proud so far…FF they did the nation proud in the past…SF I won’t even comment.We need to move away from the gombeen civil war politics that we have ,move people away from voting for political parties because their father and grandfather voted for. Ppl like Shane Ross and Stephen Donnelly are lost in a Dail the works the way it is…because they have no say even if they had the most wonderful idea in the world it’s just not going to happen!
Fianna Fail did the nation proud Shane? Well not in my lifetime. They’ve bankrupted the country three times since I was born and I’m not even fifty yet. I will never vote for Fianna Fail. Populist morons.
Reg…I think you missed the sarcasm in that …I wouldn’t quench one of them if they were on fire…and that’s being polite..
Good to hear Shane!
Economically for a free market but with a strong social conscious.
Not Creighton,any one but Creighton
The national doctors strike not that important to the Reform group so!!!…..
Lucinda must be delighted that her husband has a good chance of keeping his job after the next election. Not sure about her chances though!
The wicked witch isn’t gone
U better find your ruby slippers Kenny
PDs 2, no thanks
Can we have a Debate about Abortion while were at it ?
That and the gay rights! It’s amazing how they keep ignoring the questions we’ve been asking for decades!
Won’t be long before they REFORM back into FG
New political grouping, Shiite, anything to protect the Blueshirts.
Reform alliance , how about reject alliance . Nobody cares what ye want or say.
Ffs… Didn’t we just spend enough time on this with a referendum. Move on people. There’s plenty of other crap in this country that needs attention….
Politicians really get my goat!
No to an entirely directly elected Seanád. If you do the same former GAA stars, FF rejects and the ilk will be put in. It should be a series of panels such as education, nominated and elected by Teaching Council, NCCA etc… Business Leaders voted in by IBEC, that small businesses thing, Arts and culture panel etc… this would take time to tease out, but would better lend it self to our upper house.
No to any more representation of the teaching profession. It’s enough our mini-cabinet is 75% defunct teacher.
I’d disagree with the idea of giving anyone a vote on the basis of their associations or what they work as. I also think it’s a cryin’ shame that in this day and age we still have to debate whether or not one man – one vote is the right system.
I would say a directly elected house, with longer terms, but smaller overall size. The yanks do this with their senate on the basis that it lends itself to less of a partisan fight and a more of a thoughtful debate. That’s the way a second house should be.
(Or maybe even make it a house composed solely of independents? They are pretty much useless in the dáil as it stands, and it’d be a good balance to party politics, unless I’m missing the stupid part of the idea!)
Reform ? Membership of a political party should exempt Seanad membership. That’s a good start. If that’s too far reaching – then membership of Dail for 3 previous administrations.
We need Dail reform and accountability at many levels including politicians and CS.
Seanad has no power – either before or after the vote. I voted to get rid as it had little impact.
Time to dissolve Dail & Seanad and start again.
I’d give Lucinda one :) I’m no snob !
Hey Loose-Cinders, back a horse that might win and forget about the current no. 1 hit single “we want reform of the Seanad” as it will be gone by next month and some other populist folly with be ‘idea du jour’
If we got this, power of recall to both houses and the ability to call in referenda with 75,000 signatures whenever we like, we’d have (dare I say it?) a pretty good system on our hands.
have your say