The Galway Rape Crisis Centre has warned that it will be forced to close in June unless it receives more funding.
The needs of survivors of sexual abuse in the west of Ireland must be made a priority, the centre has said. It currently has a six-month waiting list, but will not be able to pay its two full-time and seven part-time staff after June.
Some 60 per cent of the centre's running costs are met by the Western Health Board, but this allocation has not increased in five years.
The centre, which helped the victim in the Naughton rape case, has been in Galway for 18 years and relied on voluntary fund-raising to purchase its premises. It has applied to the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women, but needs to have a specific project to be sure of receiving a positive response.
"Ironically, we don't need to carry out any more projects. We just need to be able to continue to exist," said Ms Agnes Warren. She estimates that the centre will have to raise €70,000 to stay open beyond June.
The centre serves Galway city and county and conducts 50 appointments each week. Up to 15 drop-in clients also visit each week on average for support.