A record number of people who are registered on the National Intellectual Disability Database sought assistance from Irish health services last year.
The Health Research Board has published a report for 2010 which shows that help was sought by 25,936 people, that is 98% of those registered.
Up to 31% of cases related to full-time residential services.
The Health Research Board has said, based on this data, more than 4,500 new places will be needed to meet demand in the next five years.