Demand for support from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre reached unprecedented levels last year, according to it latest annual report.
There were almost 24,000 contacts made to DRCC's 24-hour helpline - the highest since the organisation was founded 47 years ago.
In total, there were 23,955 contacts to the centre in 2025 - which was up over 5% from 2024 and 29% from 2023.
Almost half of all contacts (48.5%) were known to be from repeat callers, while some 7,352 (30.7%) were first-time contacts.
The busiest month for first-time contacts to the national helpline was April 2025.
The DRCC said the peak may have been due to the number of "high-profile courts cases" involving sexual violence at the time.
Chief Executive of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Rachel Morrogh, thanked those who placed their trust in DRCC last year and acknowledged the courage it takes for people "to pick up the phone for the first time, to find the words to say out loud".
Young adults and adolescents were heavily represented among those who disclosed image-based sexual abuse or cyber-abuse to the service in 2025.
"A considerable number of parents" also called the DRCC to learn how to support young adult or adolescent children through the impact of sexual violence, which often occurred within relationships or at events.
There was also an increased number of contacts from people experiencing homelessness, with over 300 callers citing concerns involving homelessness, up from a little over 200 in 2024.
People spoke about experiences in which they were forced to stay in their living conditions because they were unable to secure other accommodation, and some feared being made homeless should they speak up or act against housemates or live-in landlords who were sexually abusive.
Most people called the DRCC seeking support through telephone counselling, followed by support related to therapy and requests for information.
Therapy appointments totalling 7,270 were delivered by the organisation, marking an increase of just under 23% on the previous year.
The number of DRCC therapists has grown in recent years, and the DRCC has moved to new offices which include over 10 therapy rooms on the Dublin Quays.
In 2025, 79.5% of clients had experienced sexual violence as adults, while 32% had been abused as children.
Some 15% of clients had experienced sexual violence both as an adult and in childhood.
The Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan commended the DRCC leadership team, staff and volunteers for their "tireless work and commitment" and acknowledged the courage of every survivor who reached out for support, often for the first time.
The Minister added that he remained "firmly committed to continue strengthening services and legislation; supporting survivors; and driving lasting cultural change so we achieve zero tolerance for domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Irish society".
During the course of 2025, the Minister for Justice announced his intention to legislate on the issue of counselling notes.
The aim is to ensure counselling records would be released only where the judge decided that they contained evidence relevant to legal proceedings.
DRCC's annual report says many clients mentioned to therapists a fear about the possible use of their private therapy counselling notes in trials, which effectively "acted as a deterrent" to them seeking justice.
DRCC's report launch coincides with the first day of examination by the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration on the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026.
The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre made a written submission to the committee in July last year, which included provisions on counselling notes, as well as abusive and predatory landlord behaviour such as demanding sex for rent, among other matters.
