Two regional committees on violence against women have been set up by the Minister of State for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Ms Mary Wallace said these committees, along with others in each of the health board areas around the State, will identify the services available and what is needed to make these services comprehensive.
The setting up of the regional committees follows the establishment of a National Steering Committee on Violence against Women, which arose out of a task force report on this subject which was published a year ago.
Speaking at the setting-up of the Mid-Western Regional Committee yesterday, Ms Wallace said: "Women who are victims need to be made fully aware of the services available to them, both locally and nationally, if they are to receive the best possible treatment in their time of need.
"The service providers, who are often the first point of contact, need to be fully briefed on the range of services available in their local area so that women who are victims do not have to add to their trauma by having to go from place to place to get help."
Ms Wallace also inaugurated the Midlands Regional Committee on Violence against Women yesterday. They will all be in place by the end of May, she said.
She told The Irish Times that the regional committees, which are made up of representatives from the health boards, the Garda Siochana and voluntary agencies working with the victims of domestic violence, will meet monthly and report by September. Between them they will map the State for services for the victims of violence, identifying gaps so that funding can go to the areas of greatest need.
From October a woman at risk of violence anywhere in the State can go to her GP or local Garda station and have access to information about the nearest service available to her, she said.