Nearly 3,500 women contacted a domestic violence service for the first time between March and August this year, according to a new report by Safe Ireland.
The report is based on data collected from 39 domestic violence services nationwide.
Since March, organisations supporting victims of domestic violence have highlighted the need for those experiencing abuse to be prioritised during Covid-19 restrictions.
The Tracking the Shadow of the Pandemic report says 3,450 women and 589 children sought support and safety from abuse and coercive control between March and August.
Safe Ireland said at least 1,970 women and 411 children received support from a domestic violence service in that period.
The tracking study is based on monthly data from frontline services including the Women's Aid helpline.
The report shows that 575 women and 98 children - who had never as far as is known, contacted a domestic violence service before - contacted services every month in that time.
33,941 helpline calls were answered across the country over the period, that is an average of 184 calls every day.
By comparison, in 2018, domestic violence services responded to an average of 147 calls a day. The Covid-19 call rate shows an increase of 25%.
On average, according to Safe Ireland, there were 191 women and 288 children staying in domestic violence accommodation (refuge, safe homes and supported housing) each month.
1,351 requests for refuge could not be met as there was no space. However, Safe Ireland said services worked creatively to find alternative accommodation in the community.
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Co-CEO of Safe Ireland Mary McDermott said the study exposes patterns of domestic violence heightened by the pandemic.
She said while the Government has continuously name-checked domestic violence as a priority - this has not been backed up by the resources and infrastructural modernisation that is needed.
In Budget 2021, Safe Ireland recommended that €7.5m was needed for services to ensure that it could meet current and growing demands.
However, it said there has been no clarity from Government on how the sector is going to be funded.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has said Child and Family Agency Tusla has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims.
The Department said that Tusla has advised that it has issued €800,000 for services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence to respond to the challenges arising from Covid-19 this year, with a further €1.2m in identified costs currently expected to maintain "business-as usual" across all those services up to the year end.
The Department said extra funding announced in Budget 2021 will meet increasing demand for existing services including residential care, supporting the community and voluntary sector, services for victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and unaccompanied minors.
It said detailed allocations for 2021 will be announced in due course "taking account of greatest need and what is achievable within resources available".
The Department of Justice says the Programme for Government commits to the development of the third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, which will place a priority on prevention and reduction and will include a National Preventative Strategy.
It says the audit will assist in developing proposals on what infrastructure is needed to ensure that the system deals with all of the issues related to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in the most holistic and effective way possible.
The Department says that at the outset of the pandemic the Government recognised the impact that restricted movements could have on domestic violence incidents and put in place additional supports to ensure all relevant Departments and agencies could respond appropriately.
It says Tusla has advised that it is providing additional funding of €2 million to domestic, sexual and gender based violence services in the context of Covid in 2020.
The Department of Justice says it has provided €327,590 in Covid specific funding to help organisations working to support victims of crime, including victims of domestic abuse and has secured €400,000 to continue this covid specific support in 2021.
It points out that the 'Still Here' campaign continues to run through various media to spread the message that support services from State agencies and the voluntary sector are still available to anyone at risk of, or experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence regardless of the level of restrictions.
