There are 59 people facing prosecution for paying for sex with a prostitute since it became illegal nearly four years ago.
Since April 2017, it has been illegal to buy sexual services from a prostitute and figures released by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under Freedom of Information, show that while there were no related prosecutions in 2017, seven were instigated in 2018, 29 in 2019 and 23 last year.
The figures also show the offences allegedly took place in eight different counties. Dublin accounted for just under two thirds of (63 per cent), while cases were also taken in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Louth, Meath, Wexford and Donegal.
Of the 23 people who are facing prosecution last year, 15 are 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 has also caused unintended impacts for sex workers.
"We are not surprised that it has resulted in policing of 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."
