Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
1147. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to open a sexual assault treatment unit in the mid-west region; the consideration that has been given to this by her Department and the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12196/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are six Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) nationally, located in Donegal, Galway, Cork, Waterford, Dublin, and Mullingar. These units provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders and gender identities aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault. SATUs operate in accordance with a nationally agreed model of care, underpinned by defined multi-agency guidelines and referral pathways. People are offered a choice of care pathways according to their own preference and services are delivered in close partnership with key agencies, including the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, An Garda Síochána, and Tusla. All units within the SATU network respond in line with national guidelines developed through collaborative inter-agency engagement. SATUs offer a range of services, including health assessments, medication, and forensic examinations - including options for people to access care without the need to engage with An Garda Siochana. SATUs also provide opportunities for people to store evidence for up to one year, to give them time to consider their reporting intentions in more detail. Patients aged 16 years and over may access SATU services without the accompaniment or involvement of An Garda Síochána, although for patients under 18 years of age, statutory child protection obligations apply. Detailed information is available on hse.ie/satu.
The HSE has advised there is a service in Limerick which operates independently of the national SATU network and SATU governance structures. It provides a local out-of-hours Forensic Medical Examination (FME) service for individuals aged 14 years and over but does not currently provide health checks or options for storage of evidence. All patients must be accompanied by An Garda Síochána, who initiate access to the service. An Garda Síochána contact Shannon Doc, who in turn liaises with the on-call GP regarding provision of care.
Regarding the location and number of SATUs nationally, these were determined based on the sustainability of existing services, geographical accessibility, travel time to the nearest SATU, and historical reporting rates. Units are geographically distributed to ensure that patients can access services within a three hour travel window. This access timeframe is a national Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the service, with a target of 90%, which has been consistently achieved since 2018.
SATUs are a key element of the support available in the health sector to victims of rape and sexual assault and while the demand for this service is unpredictable it is monitored closely HSE. This PQ has also been referred to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy on operational matters.
