WOMEN’S AGENCY RUHAMA SAYS TECHNOLOGY IS AIDING THE SPREAD OF PROSTITUTION INTO RURAL IRELAND WITH PIMPS AND TRAFFICKERS NOW ABLE TO MONITOR WOMEN WORKING IN SMALL COMMUNITIES. THE AGENCY HELPS VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING AND WOMEN INVOLVED IN PROSTITUTION AND SAYS IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT THAT  ORGANISED PROSTITUTION IS NOW A REALITY IN PLACES LIKE BALLINA, TUBBERCURRY AND EDGEWORTHSTOWN. RUHAMA CLAIMS MOBILE PHONES AND THE INTERNET ARE INCREASINGLY BEING USED TO ADVERTISE AND ARRANGE MEETINGS IN THE SEX INDUSTRY. IT ESTIMATES THAT AS MANY AS 1,000 WOMEN ARE SELLING SEX AT ANY GIVEN TIME IN IRELAND. AS WELL AS ESTABLISHED MARKETS IN DUBLIN, CORK AND LIMERICK, THE AGENCY SAID IT HAS COME INTO CONTACT WITH ORGANISED PROSTITUTION IN AREAS SUCH AS EDGEWORTHSTOWN, CO LONGFORD, TUBBERCURRY, CO SLIGO, AND BALLINA, CO MAYO.