Urgent funds are being sought by the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre to deliver consent education programmes in schools.
Senator Eileen Flynn said the centre ‘hasn’t a shilling’ this year to meet the demand in the county.
Speaking in the Seanad yesterday, Senator Flynn said schools are “crying out” for the programme.
“Here in Donegal we have 200 transition-year students who won’t have that programme because the funding is not there.
“Last year, it was possible for the centre to deliver the programme to more than 100 students. This year, though, the organisation does not have, as my father would say, a shilling in its account to enable it to deliver this great training programme to the young students,” Senator Flynn said.
She suggested that a letter should be sent to the Minister for Education to ask if it would be possible to support the Rape Crisis Centre in delivering this vital training to the young people of the county.
Funds would support an educational and prevention service to teach young people about sexual violence through interactive workshops. The workshops promote healthy relationships, mutual respect and equality through clear communication and making healthy choices, as well as raising awareness of sexual assault, abuse and rape.
Consent workshops for young people are vitally important, however, organisations like Donegal Rape Crisis Centre struggle to fund their provision.
Young people are being deprived. Now more than ever we should be focusing on supporting important education projects such as this. pic.twitter.com/ZjgtD3i5uY
— Eileen Ní Fhloinn (@Love1solidarity) January 19, 2022
“Prevention is better than intervention. If education is what the Government wants to support, they need to support that nationally and locally. Yes, society needs to change its behaviour in general, but services are needed – and must be supported – to educate all people around appropriate and inappropriate behaviour towards women.
“We need a cultural change and the only way we’re going to do that is with education, such as the workshops the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre provides in schools and other areas,” she said.
Senator Flynn also addressed the Seanad on the importance of education programmes on Wednesday afternoon.
Senator Flynn said supports for women and children must also be strengthened.
The senator said: “We also have women’s domestic violence refuges and support services that are underfunded and under-resourced. The pandemic brought with it an epidemic of abuse and violence against women.
“Our domestic violence refuges are supported with minimal funding and topped up with donations and charity. I understand that nine counties do not even have a refuge.
“How can we expect these services to provide women and children with the supports and safety they deserve if they are not properly funded?” she asked.
Senator Flynn said: “We have to focus on supporting programmes that work to bring an end to these terrible acts of violence.”