Around one in seven survivors of abuse who filed a complaint with gardaí felt they were treated in an insensitive manner, according to Rape Crisis Network Ireland.
This means that 14% felt that the complaint was not taken seriously, and gardaí were dismissive, disinterested, unsympathetic and unsupportive.
A further 29% felt they were treated in an insensitive manner, meaning that gardaí were business-like, and neither sensitive nor insensitive. 57% felt they were treated in a sensitive manner.
For the first time, the National Rape Crisis Statistics report deals with the contact of people who suffered abuse reporting to gardaí.
41% did not receive ongoing contact from gardaí on their case, meaning they did not receive updates on the progress of their case.
Responding to the report, Interim Garda Commisioner Noirin O'Sullivan has said that the practices and culture of gardaí are being changed and a new approach is being implemented in relation to the investigation of domestic violence, sexual abuse and people trafficking.
Almost a quarter of survivors of sexual violence, abused while under the age of 13, were harmed by other children.
The latest report from the RCNI also reveals that more than 32,000 contacts were made to its crisis helplines last year, representing almost 4,000 hours of calls.
The 15 rape crisis centres across Ireland had 2,203 survivors of sexual violence present themselves for help last year.
Of these, 7% were children; 61% of survivors aged 13 to 17 had been subjected to serious abuse; 23% who were abused while under the age of 13 were harmed by other children.
The RCNI has said teenagers who experience sexual violence may not be receiving the best response.
The report finds that these children more commonly disclose patterns of abuse experienced by adults.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Justice and the interim Garda Commissioner have today met with Rape Crisis Network workers, who deal with the victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse daily.
Interim Commissioner Noirín O'Sullivan moved to reassure victims that they will be listened to and treated seriously and sensitively by the Gardai
She said there would be a new approach to the investigation of these crimes.
She said it would no longer be a case of the first garda to arrive at the scene, but instead there would by a new cross-functional unit dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault and people-trafficking.
She said it would be linked to new Victim Services Centres all over the country.
Ms O’Sullivan accepted there was a need for An Garda Síochána to re-focus on victims with understanding and compassion and said the culture of the force is changing.
Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said she has confidence in the current garda leadership to implement the necessary changes and she said the Government will provide the money for investment in technology.
