The six Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) in Ireland provide clinical, forensic and supportive care for those who have experienced sexual violence. These units are located in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Mullingar, Galway and Letterkenny and, in 2019, these units provided care for 943 people who disclosed rape or sexual assault. An additional 20 people were cared for in the out-of-hours service at University Hospital Limerick, which has a slightly different structure and funding stream.

For the fifth consecutive year, the numbers of patients attending SATUs has increased; albeit only by less than 1% in 2019. The counties most frequently represented in the figures are those in which there is a SATU, we need to ensure equitable awareness of and access to the service regardless of where or to whom a person reports an incident. While it is important not to over interpret small changes year on year, it is vital that we continue to collate these figures in order to identify trends and adapt our services appropriately to ensure that we remain responsive to peoples’ needs.

Alcohol and Drug Use pg 9