The number of first-time callers to the national helpline for victims of rape jumped by 30% last year, a new report has shown.

According to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre's (DRCC) Annual Report and Statistics 2014, the national helpline handled over 9,200 genuine counselling calls. Over half of these - 5,077 - were from first-time callers, an increase of 30% when compared to 2013's figure.

Some 46% of these calls related to adult rape, a 14% increase when compared to 2013. Overall, 56% of calls related to adult sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault and trafficking. This marked an increase of 10% when compared with 2013.

Almost one in four callers to the service in 2014 were male and the DRCC noted that there has been ‘a steady year-on-year increase in males using the helpline since 2008 when the figure was 14%'.

Some 44% of calls related to childhood sexual abuse, including ritual abuse. This marked a 3% increase when compared to 2013's figure.

Almost 70% of callers were from the Dublin area and 95% of callers were of Irish nationality. While just 5% of callers were of other nationalities, this still represented a small increase - 1% - when compared with 2013.

The report also noted that 215 victims of rape and sexual assault were accompanied by DRCC trained volunteers to the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital last year.

"It is evident from the 2014 statistics that the frontline services of the DRCC are crucial to the victims of recent rape, childhood sexual abuse and other forms of sexual violence, who are availing of the services to support their recovery from the trauma of these most heinous crimes perpetrated against them," commented DRCC chief executive, Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop.

However, she pointed out that the organisation has seen a cut of over €300,000 to its statutory funding since 2009. She said that while the DRCC had ‘restructured its operations' so that it could continue to offer essential services to victims, ‘it is not possible to sustain these vital services without a commitment from Government to begin reinvesting in them now'.

Meanwhile, the report also revealed that the DRCC's counselling and psychotherapy services saw 493 people for individual counselling in 2014. Just over half of these were attending for adult sexual violence, while just under half were attending for childhood sexual abuse.

Most of these clients were Irish and 88% were female.

The report also provided details about reporting to the Gardai. The figures related to 293 people who commenced therapy in the DRCC in 2014, where the reporting status was known, although the alleged crime may have happened in a different year.

Of the 293 cases, 104 were reported to the Gardai - a reporting rate of 36%. Almost two in three of these cases related to rape and sexual assault, while the remainder related to childhood sexual abuse.

Among these 104 cases, the outcome was known in 26 cases. Charges were pending in 15 of the cases, charges were dropped by the victim or DPP in seven cases and four went to trial, resulting in three convictions or guilty pleas. The outcome of the other case was unknown.

"We are now at a critical turning point in relation to awareness and changes in what were very stereotypical entrenched attitudes towards rape and sexual abuse in Ireland.

"While a lot has been achieved, we now need to reinvest in rape crisis frontline services. Investment is also imperative in education and training programmes, in early intervention and prevention strategies," Ms O'Malley-Dunlop added.

The national helpline number is 1800 77 88 88 or for more information on the DRCC, click here