VICTIMS of abuse in residential institutions have sought help in record numbers since the publication of the Ryan report, prompting a funding appeal from helplines. Cash-strapped support groups have sought emergency funds and made cutbacks to meet the demand.
The One in Four group has sought a meeting with Children’s Minister Barry Andrews. Its support services have been overwhelmed since last month’s publication of the report on child abuse, said executive director Maeve Lewis.
"It’s been absolutely relentless. We thought it would calm down after a couple of weeks, but it hasn’t," Ms Lewis said.
"The report has unleashed an absolute avalanche of people [seeking help]. The media coverage has re-triggered a lot of memories."
One in Four’s advocacy service, which helps clients with prosecutions against abusers, has been contacted by 300 victims in recent weeks, more than half the number of people that service usually helps in a year.
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s staff had to accept pay cuts of between 3% and 10%, chief executive Ellen O’Malley-Dunlop said.
"Money is extremely tight. Services are stretched. Our lines are just kept going. We’ve had a threefold increase in calls for this time of year." Its service is still inundated with calls from abuse victims, she said.
The revelation came as the Dáil concluded a two-day motion pledging to protect all children in the state.
Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe concluded speeches on behalf of the Government by apologising on behalf of the Department of Education. But he criticised efforts to question his civil servants’ motives.
On Thursday, Labour TD Ruairí Quinn said officials were either part of Opus Dei, the Knights of Columbanus or Mr O’Keeffe was incompetent.
"I do not accept that Deputy Quinn has the right to use the privilege of this house to impugn the personal integrity and motivations of civil servants working in my department.
"I could not let such an unprecedented attack on the personal integrity of my staff lie unchallenged," he said.
Environment Minister John Gormley earlier urged all parties to find a consensus to allow the proposed referendum on the rights of the child to go ahead.
Separately, there were angry exchanges between Labour Party TDs and former education minister Dr Michael Woods on the indemnity deal he signed off on with religious orders.
Members of victims’ groups in the galleries clapped during a number of speeches.
At one point during the poignant speeches, Fine Gael’s Catherine Byrne surrendered her speaking time to allow a minute’s silence.
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