New figures from the campaign group, Women's Aid, show that 40% of calls made to its domestic violence helpline last year went unanswered.
According to the group, more than 15,000 calls to the service were answered in 2005.
The reason for the 10,000 unanswered calls, according to the group, is lack of resources. There are, it says, not enough staff employed to answer every call.
Of the 15,000 calls that were answered over half were reporting emotional abuse. Over a quarter concerned physical abuse.
The figures show that 51% of calls came from first-time users. 40% came from the Greater Dublin Area.
One third of the reported abuse was perpetrated by a spouse.
The director of Women's Aid, Margaret Martin, has called on the Government to make additional funding available, saying it was unacceptable that some calls go unanswered.
