SETU 'Consent Matters' workshop up for award

The Waterford-based Consent Matters project has been shortlisted for a national award. 

Consent Matters is a collaboration between South East Technological University (SETU) and the Waterford Local Community Safety Partnership (WLCSP) that offers community-based guidance on tackling sexual violence and harassment. 

Roisin Shanahan, Senior Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer at SETU, shared the news at a recent meeting of the WLCSP. 

"I'm delighted to let you know that the Consent Matters project has been shortlisted in the category of Best Collaboration Award – Domestic (Public Good, Culture & Social Impact) at the National Education Awards 2026. The winner will be announced on Thursday, April 16, at Johnstown Estate, Co Meath."

Rising sexual violence

During the meeting, volunteer Monica Murphy stressed an urgent need to expand the age target of the project, stating: "Given the ongoing daily media reports of sexual violence on our news channels and all across social media, I'm wondering if there might be any merit in seeking to widen the scope of the project to reach beyond third-level groups and into early adulthood."

Ms Murphy presented statistics from the CSO (Central Statistics Office) and the Rape Crisis Centre about the state of sexual violence in Ireland. She said: "The most common sexual violence happens in private dwellings. Currently, about 63% of it happens in the victim's own home. 

"In about 70% of sexual offences, the suspect is known to the victim; 16% were often friends or acquaintances, 13% were blood relatives, 8% were current or former intimate partners or spouses."

The Irish Prison Services had submitted an age profile of sexual offenders from the 2023-2024 period. According to Ms Murphy: "12% were for under 18 year olds, 31% for 18-29 year olds. That's a combined 43% of sexual offenders under the age of 30, which the consent program may get in terms of how it is now." 

Referring to the study, 57% of sexual offenders are above the age of 30. 

Ms Murphy concluded: "There might be some merit if we can get some funding for roadshows across the city and county to educate people on the subject of consent in the relationships in their homes, and generally get the conversation started to tackle the scourge of sexual violence across the county."

Chairperson Sean Aylward suggested a meeting with the CEO of Cuan, the new domestic, sexual and gender-based violence agency as a first step.