The Minister for Justice has said there is a big problem with domestic violence in Ireland.
Speaking at the launch of theFree Legal Advice Centre's annual report in Dublin, Jim O'Callaghan said: "We have a big problem in Ireland in terms of domestic violence, it's something that needs to be confronted".
FLAC said IT received a record high number of domestic violence queries last year as it warned it only has the capacity to respond to one fifth of the calls it receives.
Minister O'Callaghan said its important that people have access to justice, which is part of the reason agencies such as FLAC and civil legal aid scheme are being funded.
FLAC helps people access legal assistance who could otherwise not afford it.
The minister added: "Obviously it's a constitutional right for people to have access to our courts and the administration of justice and FLAC plays an essential role in ensuring that happens.
"I would like to be able to provide greater resources not just to FLAC and the Civil Legal Aid scheme ... I'm limited in terms of budget, but I do think it is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice to try to increase access to the administration of justice."
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FLAC responded to over 11,000 calls to its information line last year - but this is just one fifth of the more than 53,000 calls the organisation said it received in 2024.
Family law remained the area in which FLAC received the most queries at 3,180 calls - including 539 queries that related to domestic violence.
Queries about grievance procedures, dismissal, bullying or harassment, and discrimination were also all higher than in any previous year.
A total of 224 people received legal representation, mainly in the areas of housing, homelessness, equality, discrimination and social welfare law.
FLAC also provided representation in relation to 102 complaints under the equality legislation.
The organisation said that volunteer lawyers provided legal advice to 3,731 people with a 14% increase in employment law queries
FLAC Chief Executive Eilis Barry said: "The overwhelming demand for FLAC’s services point to nothing less than a civil legal aid crisis.
"As a small NGO, we cannot begin to meet this demand, but the ways in which we work provide a blueprint for a new era of civil legal aid in this country."
