GARDAÍ raided 28 brothels around the country in the first six months of the year, but many others remain in operation under the radar by constantly changing location.

New figures reveal gardaí raided 26 brothels last year, meaning that this year's garda detections of brothels is already at a 100% increase on the previous 12 months. Since 2006, gardaí have shut down 106 brothels.

This year alone, gardaí have shut down seven brothels in Limerick, four in Dublin and one in Cork.

The figures were released to Labour Party TD Joe Costello. "We should be pleased that there were so many detections so far this year compared to last year. But the industry is very healthy and is proliferating. I think the 26 detected this year is just the tip of the iceberg," he said.

The number of brothels detected by gardaí since 2006 has remained at a similar number annually until this year. In 2006, 19 were raided; in 2007, 12 were detected and 21 were raided in 2008.

The figures also show that in the first six months of this year, brothels were raided in most parts of the country. As well as the major cities, brothels were detected in Offaly, Wexford, Monaghan, Roscommon, Louth, Longford and Laois. "Every part of the country is affected by this," added Costello. "Trafficking of women into Ireland to work in these brothels is a significant problem also."

Gardaí say brothel keepers now regularly change locations to evade detection, moving around apartment blocks and houses.

Ruhama, the charity for women affected by prostitution, claims demand for prostitutes has not decreased during the recession and sex workers are being forced to take bigger risks to earn money.

Prostitutes working both on the streets and in brothels were being forced to engage with men who refuse to wear condoms and were being subjected to more physical and emotional abuse, according to the charity's chief executive Sarah Benson.

Ruhama saw its caseload increase by 20% last year. The charity, which provides counselling, accommodation, education and outreach services, engaged with 196 women, of which 66 were believed to be victims of trafficking.

Two of those it assisted were children, with one girl aged just 15 when she was first brought here.

Almost half of the 26 women trafficked into the state last year were from Nigeria, and Ruhama said most were in their 20s. Others came from Romania, Kenya, Somalia and Slovakia.