There has been a 43% increase in the number of teenagers reporting rape and sexual assault by other teens to the CARI helpline over two years.

Its annual report finds that most phone calls to the line are about girls aged under 13.

The CARI annual report found the helpline received more than 1,500 calls last year, with most coming from mothers and the most common issue reported is abuse within families.

The CEO of CARI, Mary Flaherty, says the growth of abuse among teenagers between 2012 and 2014 by their peers is extremely worrying.

She says this abuse can be different to abuse by adults.

And she says waiting lists for their services are now more than a year long. She says having so many children waiting so long is an absolute disgrace.

While the Children's Minister, James Reilly, says more research is needed into why it is happening.