There was a 29% increase in hate crimes and hate-related incidents reported to Gardaí last year.

New figures released this morning show that one-third of the incidents were related to race, with just over one-fifth related to sexuality and 21% related to nationality.

In all 582 hate crimes and incidents were recorded – a 29% increase on the 448 recorded the year before.

They included 510 hate crimes and 72 hate-related incidents.

The figures show that public order and assaults were the crimes most commonly associated with hate and discrimination.

• Public order – 30%
• Minor assaults – 20%
• Assault causing harm – 9%
• Criminal damage – 8%

Assistant Commissioner Paula Hilman said hate crimes, “have a huge impact on victims, specifically because they are targeted because of a characteristic of who they are”.

“These crimes also have a significant impact on wider communities and society”.

Assistant Garda Commissioner, Paula Hilman by Tom Douglas/Newstalk

She said it is disappointing to see the number of recorded hate crimes on the rise, but noted that it is positive to see more victims coming forward and reporting their experiences to Gardaí.

"We all need as a community to consistently highlight and call out discrimination and hate where it occurs,” she said.

“I urge any person who has experienced or observed prejudice to come forward and report those incidents to us. I can assure people that complaints will be dealt with thoroughly and professionally.”

Some of the crimes highlighted in the report include a woman who was kicked and punched in the face after being racially abused and a number of incidents where people were abused, threatened and intimidated.

Nearly half the incidents were recorded in the Dublin region; however, the figures were proportionally similar in other parts of the country.

Since some of the crimes and incidents involved more than one element of hate, a total of 617 discriminatory motives were recorded.