New figures show 696 people sought help from domestic violence support services on just one day last year.

The "Just One Day" census was carried out by a network of support groups on the 24-hour period of Tuesday November 5th last.

467 women and 229 children were receiving help from domestic violence services participating in the survey on that date.

The numbers are from the National Organisation of Domestic Violence Services, SAFE Ireland.

Of the total, 115 women and 155 children were accommodated in refuge. A further 16 women could not be admitted to a refuge because there was not enough space.

Over the 24 hours, 109 helpline calls were answered by domestic violence services throughout the country.

SAFE Ireland says 24 of the women were pregnant.

The majority of them - 305 - were aged between 26 and 45. However, 64 were young women under-25 and 17 women were over-56, including seven who were over the age of 65.

A recent EU-wide survey showed that a 70% of Irish women did not contact any organisation following the most serious incidence of violence.

That survey showed that 26% - 394,325 women - had experienced physical or sexual violence since the age of 15.

SAFE Ireland CEO Sharon O'Halloran says the service providers reported the census had been carried out on a "quiet day".