Calls to Rape Crisis Network Ireland have increased since beginning of pandemic

Rape Crisis Network Ireland has handled 30% more face-to-face remote calls since the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

The group says the pandemic impacted profoundly on the quality and nature of the deep intervention required for survivors, as services moved online.

A new training and research programme has been launched today which aims to address how domestic abuse survivors should be counselled both in person and online.

RCNI Director Dr Cliona Saidlear says significant numbers of women have been contacting their services during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"What wee found over the Covid period was that there was a huge increase in our demand for our services.

"For the sample that we looked at, there was a 30% increase in the face to face, which is now remote, counselling which we were delivering across rape crisis centres."