Connect, which is fully funded by the HSE, has seen a
30% average annual growth rate in calls between its first full year in
2007 and 2010 — rising from 4,630 to 10,321 calls. Of the calls in 2010,
8,403 were answered (82%), and 1,828 unanswered (18%).
Connect chief executive Anne Richardson said they had "some concerns" at the number of unanswered calls, which have risen since 2007.
She said there were also a large number of calls received outside opening hours, jumping from 290 in 2007 to 3,519 in 2010.
"These figures show there is an unmet need," she said, speaking at the launch of their first service report.
"Every year we present the budget we require. Originally the service was intended to be full-time, and every year we talk with our funders that we are still on a part-time basis. Like everyone at the moment the money is tight — we’re in the same position."
Ms Richardson said there had been "quite a drop" in its funding, with company accounts showing the budget falling from €527,000 in 2008 to €390,000 this year, a cut of 25%.
"We have managed to maintain our services: for example, staff took a pay cut last year and, in addition, we try to be as efficient as possible internally, making cuts wherever we can."
Ms Richardson said Connect was unique in Ireland in that it provides a telephone counselling service, staffed by trained professionals.
She said some of theincrease in calls was driven by particular events, such as the Ryan and Murphy reports.
The report shows that 30% of calls were from Dublin, followed by 14% from Cork and 10% from Galway.
Ms Richardson said that while there were more female callers than male, men made up 40% of callers in 2010, compared to 23% in 2007.
She said the single-biggest age category is 31-40, but said there had been a rise in over 50s since 2009 due to the Ryan and Murphy reports.
Board member Christine Buckley of the Aislinn Support Group said she would not be alive were it not for counselling.
"Many of us will need counselling for the rest of our lives," she said, before adding that she was herself "back in counselling".
She attacked the Faoiseamh helpine, which was set up by the Catholic Church organisation CORI, for limiting its counselling service to survivors to 80 hours.
"If you calculate the average hours that we, the survivors, spent in those hell holes — many of us there for 15 years, for 20, for 25 years — how can Faoiseamh helpline, (run by those) who were responsible for the abuse, dictate that a survivor will be better after 80 hours."
Contact Connect in the Republic on freephone 1800 477 477 or in the North on 0800 477 477 77 Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm to 10pm.
Connect chief executive Anne Richardson said they had "some concerns" at the number of unanswered calls, which have risen since 2007.
She said there were also a large number of calls received outside opening hours, jumping from 290 in 2007 to 3,519 in 2010.
"These figures show there is an unmet need," she said, speaking at the launch of their first service report.
"Every year we present the budget we require. Originally the service was intended to be full-time, and every year we talk with our funders that we are still on a part-time basis. Like everyone at the moment the money is tight — we’re in the same position."
Ms Richardson said there had been "quite a drop" in its funding, with company accounts showing the budget falling from €527,000 in 2008 to €390,000 this year, a cut of 25%.
"We have managed to maintain our services: for example, staff took a pay cut last year and, in addition, we try to be as efficient as possible internally, making cuts wherever we can."
Ms Richardson said Connect was unique in Ireland in that it provides a telephone counselling service, staffed by trained professionals.
She said some of theincrease in calls was driven by particular events, such as the Ryan and Murphy reports.
The report shows that 30% of calls were from Dublin, followed by 14% from Cork and 10% from Galway.
Ms Richardson said that while there were more female callers than male, men made up 40% of callers in 2010, compared to 23% in 2007.
She said the single-biggest age category is 31-40, but said there had been a rise in over 50s since 2009 due to the Ryan and Murphy reports.
Board member Christine Buckley of the Aislinn Support Group said she would not be alive were it not for counselling.
"Many of us will need counselling for the rest of our lives," she said, before adding that she was herself "back in counselling".
She attacked the Faoiseamh helpine, which was set up by the Catholic Church organisation CORI, for limiting its counselling service to survivors to 80 hours.
"If you calculate the average hours that we, the survivors, spent in those hell holes — many of us there for 15 years, for 20, for 25 years — how can Faoiseamh helpline, (run by those) who were responsible for the abuse, dictate that a survivor will be better after 80 hours."
Contact Connect in the Republic on freephone 1800 477 477 or in the North on 0800 477 477 77 Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm to 10pm.