A counselling service has been established for families affected by the recent Supreme Court ruling on the statutory rape laws.
The ruling declared a 1935 law on having sex with underage girls unconstitutional because it did not allow a defendant to offer a defence that he had made a reasonable mistake as to the girl's age.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has invited families directly affected by the decision to contact the National Counselling Services, located throughout the State.
In a statement, the HSE said: "The counsellors are highly qualified and experienced professionals who will be able to provide support and advice. These staff will also able to guide callers to other services if needed."
A freefone number, 1800 234112, has been set up during office hours to deal with any calls, and the staff will direct callers to the appropriate service in their local area, the HSE said.