Most rape crisis centres are expected to show an increase in reports of rape and sexual assaults last year, despite latest Garda figures showing a major reduction in the rate of these crimes.
The Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) said its 16 centres reported increased demand for their services but collated figures were not yet available.
Provisional Garda figures showed that reported rape offences fell by between 19 and 33 per cent last year while reported aggravated sexual assault fell by 54 per cent.
Ms Fiona Neary, co-ordinator of the RCNI, said the Garda statistics were no reflection of reality because the incidence of rape was so vastly under-reported.
She pointed to research showing that up to 40 per cent of rape victims did not confide in anyone while only 20 per cent reported the crime to the Garda Síochána. Of that 20 per cent, less than 6 per cent of cases ended in conviction.
Ms Neary said the continued increase in reports of rape was happening at a time when funding for the rape crisis centres was stretched to the limit.
She said some centres did not advertise their services because they knew they would not be able to cope with the subsequent increase in demand.
Ms Neary pointed out that Department of Health funding for the rape crisis centres was not increased this year. "We know that, under current funding levels, we are not reaching the people we need to reach. Yet year on year we see an increase in people contacting our services. It's an impossible situation."
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre will not be releasing its 2002 report until later this year but yesterday its chairwoman, Ms Breda Allen said there did not seem to be a major shift in trends.
There was no indication of a major increase in calls and men continued to account for about 9 per cent of clients, she said.
