There were almost 460 hospitalisations following dog bites last year, data from the Health Service Executive has shown.
The figures provided to RTÉ's News at One show 144 cases involved children, an increase of one from the previous year, and 315 cases related to adults, up 66 from 2021.
There were 459 discharges from acute hospitals following dog bites in 2022.
The HSE said the data includes both elective and emergency discharges.
It said it may include multiple admissions for the same patient, but said the figures should not be used to estimate the incidence or prevalence of dog bites.
The data does not include people treated for dog bites by GPs or out-patient attendances.
It also showed there has been a 36% increase since 2017 when there were 388 discharges - 195 adults and 143 children.
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An Post said its staff had 127 incidents involving animals, namely dogs, last year.
It said the figure is up slightly on the number of recorded incidents in both 2021 and 2020.
An Post said its staff is under no obligation to deliver mail to an address where they feel they might be at risk.
It also asked householders to be mindful of potential incidents.
Last year also saw over 5,000 census enumerators deliver and collect census forms to over two million homes around the country.
Over 100 incidents were reported by enumerators, about 50 of these related to dog bites.
Last year there were over 206,000 dog licences bought in the country but the severity of some attacks also appears to have increased.
There have been three fatalities recorded since 2017.
A study by Harvard University in the US published this week suggests dogs may be more likely to bite people on hotter, sunnier days and when air pollution levels are higher.
It found the likelihood of dog bites occurring in these conditions increases by up to 11%.
Dog Behaviour Expert Nanci Creedon said it is critical to develop formal procedures for investigating dog bites and reports of aggressive dogs.
She said: "As it stands, when a dog is reported to be aggressive or has attacked there's no formal procedure for investigating that report and no database where the details of the incident can be reported."
She said that the details of what causes attacks are fundamental in designing and implementing successful dog bite prevention strategies.
And after a number of serious dog attacks on people in 2022, including attacks on children last year, the Government established a working group to examine issues around the control of dogs.
An interim report from that group recommended the recruitment of 40 additional dog wardens nationwide.
It also recommended a single centralised database be created for dog microchips and that fines be doubled under the Control of Dogs Act to €5,000.
In a statement, the Department of Rural and Community Development said it is committed to implementing the recommendations as soon as possible in collaboration with other stakeholders.
No dogs are banned in Ireland but there is currently a list of 11 restricted breeds that must be muzzled in public.
In 2019, a coroner in Co Galway recommended that the Presa Canario breed be included on the list following a fatality there.
The Department said it has committed to updating the Control of Dogs Act and intends to add that breed to the restricted breeds list.
It said the changes will require (The Control of Dogs Act) legislation to be amended.
