Almost 2,000 calls were made to the national 24 hour helpline for rape and sexual abuse over the Christmas period last year, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) has said.

According to the DRCC, which runs the national helpline, 1,948 calls were made during December 2014 and January 2015.

During the same period, 40 victims of recent rape and sexual assault were accompanied by trained volunteers to the sexual assault treatment unit (SATU) in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital - a jump of 33% when compared to the previous Christmas.

"Last Christmas we hightlighted the fact that there had been a decrease in the numer of victims presenting to the centre in comparison to the previous Christmas period. Sadly this decrease has been short lived. Last year there was an increase of 33% in the number of victims accompanied to the SATU at the Rotunda hospital as well as an increase in contacts to the 24-hour helpline," commented DRCC chief executive, Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop.

The DRCC offers the following tips to people over the festive period:

-Stay with your group of friends and try not to get separated from each other
-Keep your drink in your hand at all times
-Do not accept a drink from someone you have just met even if he/she is a friend of a friend
-Ask someone you know and trust to mind your drink if you have to put it down for any reason
-Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or with someone, leave as soon as possible
-Share taxis with friends
-Make sure your mobile is charged at all times and keep the helpline number 1800 77 88 88 stored in it
-If you have to travel alone, make sure you phone ahead to where you are going and give your estimated time of arrival. Make sure your driver hears you phoning ahead.

The DRCC is also reminding people that the legal age of consent for having sex is 17 years. If a person has sex with another person without their consent, it is a crime.

A person may not give their consent freely if they are asleep, are unconscious, are severely impaired due to alcohol, are mentally impaired, are under the age of 17 or have been coerced in any other way that is deemed to be reckless.

Meanwhile, the DRCC is also highlighting the fact that eight in10 victims are raped by a person known to them.

The helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - call 1800 77 88 88.