Fourteen properties included two in County Waterford were searched as part of an operation targeting child porn distribution this week.

The others were carried out in Dublin, Cork, Meath, Monaghan and Galway by local divisional protection service units and detective units.

There were no arrests planned during this phase of the investigation and follow-up searches will be carried out over the coming days.

Liaison is being maintained between investigating gardaí and Tusla, the child and family agency in relation to child protection concerns that have arisen.

Gardai said through operations such as this they will relentlessly pursue those involved in the possession, importation and distribution of child abuse material.

Anyone with information is asked to come forward and contact their local garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Meanwhile, the  number of child pornography court cases has increased by 250% over the past three years.

In 2015, the DPP directed 22 cases for prosecution relating to accessing child porn, but this rose to 78 last year.

According to details released under the Freedom of Information Act, a further 49 cases have been directed this year.

Noeline Blackwell, from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, believes it is down to more enforcement.

Ms Blackwell said: “What seems to have happened over the past few years is we will see that the gardaí will engage in an operation where they will find a ring of people supplying child porn.

“We have no idea what percentage of people who are accessing child pornography that they are catching as compared to what’s out there.”