There has been a 66% increase in the number of people facing prosecution for rape over the past five years.

Freedom of Information figures released to Newstalk show that the DPP opted to prosecute 188 people for rape in 2021 – up from 113 in 2016.

The figure is up 12% on 168 recorded in 2020 and has increased every year for the past five years.

It continues a gradual increased over the past decade, as the figure was only 94 in 2011.

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre CEO Noeline Blackwell told Newstalk the figures remain very low.

“Even the number going to the Gardaí is only a small fraction of the numbers that for instance will contact the national 24-hour helpline that we run,” she said.

“We get at least twice as many new contacts to that line every year as the Gardaí do in relation to rape – and we don’t get everybody.”

She said the 188 figure is “very tiny” when you consider thousands of complaints were made to Gardaí.

“What this shows us is that there is more capacity in the system than there was a year or two ago but there is still a massive lack of incentive for people to go into the system,” she said.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this article, you can contact the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre 24-hour helpline on 1800 77 88 88