People in Wexford and Waterford are among a group of 59 prosecuted for paying for sex, since it became illegal nearly four years ago.
That's according to Freedom of Information files, released today, accounting for prosecutions relating to the payment of sex workers for sexual services since April 2017, when it was made illegal.
The two South-Eastern coastal counties are among eight in which cases have been reported, with Dublin accounting for just under two thirds of the prosecutions (63%).
Figures released by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) show while cases were also taken in Cork, Kerry, Louth, Meath, and Donegal, with related prosecutions in 2017, seven in 2018, 29 in 2019 and 23 last year.
Of the 23 people who faced prosecution last year, 15 were in Dublin.
Senator Barry Ward, who is also a criminal barrister, says there are likely more cases that have gone without prosecution.
"The [numbers] are probably lower than they should be. It's not the case that there have only been 59 cases of that type.
"We know that this activity is going on, so I would certainly like to see the number of people being brought to account for it to be higher and what's important is that the Gardaí are properly resourced and encouraged to bring prosecutions."
Kate McGrew from the Sex Workers Alliance says the law have also caused unintended impacts for sex workers.
"We are not surprised that it has resulted in policing of sex workers ourselves. What we have seen overwhelmingly is a dispersal of our work spaces, some people have been made homeless and some people have been deported."
