Lack of local care for sexual assault victims in Tipperary deemed 'totally unacceptable'

Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary, Ryan O’Meara, has said it is “completely unacceptable” that victims of sexual assault in the Mid-West are forced to travel to Cork for follow-up healthcare, and has called for a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) to be established in the new Nenagh Primary Care Centre when it opens.

Deputy O’Meara has stated that there is currently no SATU in the Mid-West, and that health checks are not provided as part of the out-of-hours forensic examination service available in Limerick.

“At the moment, the only service available in the region is a Forensic Medical Examination service in Limerick. This is not the same as a SATU and does not remotely provide the full range of care that victims need,” he said.

“Individuals who attend the current service in Limerick and require follow-up health checks after an assault must travel to Cork to receive that care. It is totally unacceptable that people must travel for hours for basic treatment following such a traumatic experience.”

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Deputy O’Meara said the current system creates significant barriers for victims seeking care and support.

“In the Mid-West, a victim must first contact An Garda Síochána to access the forensic examination service in Limerick. If there were a SATU in the region, qpeople could access care without having to take that step straight away.”
He added that the supports available in other regions are notably absent in the Mid-West.

“SATUs provide responsive, patient-centred care for people of all genders aged 14 years and over who have experienced rape or sexual assault. They offer medical care, counselling supports, and the option to store forensic evidence for up to a year, giving victims time to decide their next steps. That option is not available in this region.”

The issue comes against the backdrop of rising national awareness and reporting of sexual violence. Recent data from Central Statistics Office and An Garda Síochána shows a continued increase in reported sexual offences across Ireland in recent years.

While county-level breakdowns can fluctuate annually, recorded sexual offences in the Tipperary Garda Division have numbered in the dozens each year, reflecting a persistent need for accessible, localised victim services.

Deputy O’Meara raised a Parliamentary Question with the Minister for Health in February asking what considerations had been given to establishing a SATU in the HSE Mid-West region. This was referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE), which confirmed there are currently no plans to open a unit in Limerick.

Following this, he submitted further questions in March seeking clarity on how SATU locations are determined, again underscoring the urgent need for a dedicated unit in the Mid-West.

In sharing the HSE’s response, Deputy O’Meara said the situation must now be treated as a priority.

“The HSE has informed me that stakeholders are actively engaging with the National Clinical Lead for SATUs to review the situation and determine next steps. This is welcome, essential, and must now move quickly,” he said.

“The Mid-West is the only HSE region in the country without a fully functioning SATU.”
He has also called for Nenagh to be selected as the location for the service.

“The new Nenagh Primary Care Centre, which is due to open soon, is a strong and practical option. I am urging the HSE and the Minister to progress this without delay to ensure the Mid-West has access to the same level of care as the rest of the country.”