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Victims of child sex abuse are waiting up to 18 months for vital counselling services, victims' group One in Four said today as it launched a new fundraising campaign.

The charity said some 150 men and women affected by sexual violence are currently on its list in dire need of support.

One in Four’s Maeve Lewis said the group is struggling to deliver much needed services on a limited budget.

“Our numbers are going up and we always have a waiting list,” said Ms Lewis.

“At the moment we have 150 people waiting for our psychotherapy services, which means people are waiting up to a year and a half.

“When people pluck up the courage to make a call and ask for help in relation to sexual violence and then have to wait on a waiting list we just think that it completely unacceptable in 21st century in Ireland.”

Last year One in Four delivered almost 6,000 hours of counselling, had 130 people in counselling and supported a further 500 women and men through its advocacy programme.

Just half of its funding comes from Government grants with some €400,000 collected by fundraisers.

It announced details today of its Silver Mile campaign, which aims to raise €125,000 by placing a trail of €2 silver coins around the perimeter of Dublin's St Stephen’s Green on September 26th. Two years ago the same event raised €80,000.