Publication of Inception Report for the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Project "Support the implementation of the Barnahus project in Ireland"

• National Barnahus model of service to ease trauma for children who have been sexually abused
• publication of Inception Report for the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Project
• “Support the implementation of the Barnahus project in Ireland”

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, together with the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and the Council of Europe will today (25 April) publish the Inception Report for the European Union/Council of Europe Joint Project “Support the implementation of the Barnahus project in Ireland”. Access the report.

The development and implementation of the Barnahus model of service in Ireland is a cross government, multi-agency project, which is a significant initiative to help victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The national roll-out of the Barnahus model of services involves three departments (Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Department of Health and Department of Justice) working together, with the four agencies that will be involved in the delivery of services (Tusla, Children’s Health Ireland, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána).

This European Union/Council of Europe Joint Project aims to strengthen Ireland’s response to child sexual abuse by supporting the national implementation of the Barnahus model of services, adapted from Iceland to an Irish context. The project is being implemented by the Council of Europe and aims to ensure that undue delays in the treatment of cases of child sexual abuse are diminished, and that all children who are victims in such cases, and their families, benefit from a child-friendly access to justice and healthcare.

The Inception Report aims to offer a preliminary exploration of the views of the different actors involved in the functioning of Barnahus in Ireland. The views of the different agencies and professional groups that participated in the bi-lateral consultations informed the contents of the inception report. The challenges identified and potential areas of improvement should be viewed as informed opinions based on the work experience of each professional group.

This exploration has the goal of informing which areas the EU-Council of Europe project needs to address as a priority in order to support the national Barnahus project in Ireland and should be viewed as a first step of exchanging views and identifying challenges amongst agencies, as one of the pillars of the Barnahus model is to enhance inter-agency coordination and the exchange of information.

• brings together forensic, child protection, medical, therapeutic and policing services in a child centred way, when sexual abuse has occurred or is suspected
• is informed by international best practice, and is based on the Icelandic ‘Barnahus’ model
• will ensure close coordination and cooperation between key services, and support families in caring for their child throughout a difficult process, when fully developed as a national service
• will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of child sexual abuse services for the benefit of children who have suffered from sexual abuse and the families trying to support them, when fully developed as a national service

This project is co-financed by the EU Structural Reform Support Programme and the Council of Europe. More information is available on the project’s website here - Support the implementation of the Barnahus project in Ireland - Children's Rights (coe.int).

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) has been awarded financial and technical support from the EU and the Council of Europe under the Technical Support Instrument, to help expand the Barnahus model in Ireland. DCEDIY is working in close partnership with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health in developing this new model of service.

A pilot service in Galway was launched in September 2019. Since January 2022 services in Galway are operational in a bespoke centre on the outskirts of Galway city, which allows relevant agencies to provide services for children under one roof.

This project seeks to support the expansion of the Barnahus model of service, adapted to an Irish context. In addition to the dedicated centre in Galway, two further locations in the East and South will provide national coverage and access for victims and families to the service.