A helpline aimed at children who have been sexually abused recorded a 4% increase in calls last year.

According to the latest statistics from CARI, which provides therapy and support for children affected by sexual abuse, almost 1,500 calls were made to its helpline in 2012, an increases of 4.2% on the previous year.

Some 30% of these calls related to sexual assault and rape compared to just 10% of calls in 2011.

The organisation also provided almost 1,500 hours of therapy in Dublin and more than 1,000 hours in Limerick and Cork last year. Furthermore, its court accompaniment support service reported a 40% increase in calls and there was a 21% increase in children and families being supported during court attendances during the same period.

However despite this increased demand, statutory funding for CARI fell by 13% in 2012.

Commenting on this, CARI chief executive, Mary Flaherty, said that the effect of these cutbacks ‘impacted severely' on the organisation last year.

"CARI's therapy service in Cork was closed - the only specialist therapy service for child victims of sexual abuse in the region. In addition, all staff took a month long lay-off. The result was that there was a drop of 7% in therapy, and waiting lists grew to over 50 children by year end," she explained.

Meanwhile, according to CARI's acting national clinical director, Majella Ryan, the long-term effect of child sexual abuse on children who do not receive the appropriate interventions can be devastating.

"Children as young as eight present with thoughts of suicide, self-harm and mental health issues. Many struggle at school as a result of their experiences. When left untreated, they can go on to develop problems with addiction, social skills and many other things that can make life difficult and unbearable," she pointed out.

However, if these children receive the right intervention, ‘they can move on and the abusive experience does not have to define them', Ms Ryan explained.

She noted that currently in Ireland, there are far more services available for adult survivors of sexual abuse.

"It appears that despite all of the publicity this issue has received, and the bravery of so many adult survivors in coming forward and telling their stories, we are still not tackling this issue by addressing the needs of children who are being abused right now within our society," she said.

The organisation added that it is having to implement further cuts at the moment and will struggle to fund its services until the end of this year.

CARI's national helpline can be reached at 1890 924 567 or more information is available here