More than 160 Gardaí were forced to miss at least a day of work last year after being seriously assaulted on duty.

Some 52 officers had lay-offs of at least a month because of their injuries.

According to details released to Newstalk under the Freedom of Information Act, 162 officers were so seriously assaulted on duty last year that were not able to work for a period of time.

About half of the officers received bruises, grazes or bites - but others received more long-term injuries.

Seventeen sustained closed fractures, and one officer got serious multiple injuries.

The highest number of injuries sustained were in Dublin - at 50 - followed by 21 in Cork.

Seven officers were off-duty last year for more than six months because of their injuries, while 11 were out of action for between three and six months.

Jim Mulligan is the president of the Garda Representative Association (GRA).

He is calling for tougher action against those who assault officers.

"Mandatory sentencing is one of the things we've called for and stronger legislation to deal with people who assault members of the emergency services - including Gardaí.

"The other thing we've been looking for is greater personal protection equipment such as body camera and tasers - improvements like that in the uniform".