The number of people hospitalised due to stabbings increased by 9% last year.
There was also a rise in the number of people who were treated for gunshot wounds.
164 people had inpatient admissions in hospital in 2018 after being assaulted with a knife.
According to freedom of information figures, this increased to 178 last year.
167 were men and 11 were women - with the largest amount in the greater Dublin area.
100 of the patients were aged between 18 and 35, but 13 were children under 18.
"Every year we see murders or injuries where knives have been used," said Retired Detective Inspector Patrick Marry says knife crime's a huge problem among young people.
"The carrying of knives may be synonymous with groups of young people. They find it a comfort to carry a knife in case they're attacked, or if they have a drug debt or anything of that nature.
"That is a problem. Young people can end up using knives when they may not be in full fettle with the damage they can do when they use a knife."
There was a slight rise in the number of people treated for injuries they got from being shot with a handgun last year.
25 people were hospitalised in 2019 - up from 23 in 2018.
