175 people on Dublin Rape Crisis Centre waiting list

A heightened awareness of consent is one of a number of reasons why there has been an increase in young people seeking help from rape crisis centres.

175 people are on the waiting list at the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre with some people waiting up to 8 months to be seen.

Counsellors around the country have reported children as young as 12 reaching out.

CEO of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Noeline Blackwell, says they are always working to highlight the issue of consent.

"[We are] trying to get people to recognise that non-consensual sex is sexual abuse," said Ms Blackwell.

"A lot of this harm is preventable if people are given the emotional information, the sexual relationship information that they need in order to make better decisions."