A figure of �3bn is estimated to be the cost to employers

It said the total cost of domestic violence was �23bn per year.

The Northern Ireland Women's Aid Federation said more resources should be put into directly preventing domestic violence from occurring.

The report - The Cost of Domestic Violence - assesses what it costs to respond to the effects of the violence.

It was commissioned by the Women's Equality Unit from Professor Sylvia Walby of the University of Leeds.

Women's Aid said a figure of �3bn was estimated to be the cost to employers and workers caused by time off due to injuries from violence at home.

Resources directed towards prevention, particularly in schools, will help us to achieve the goal of totally eradicating domestic violence Hilary Sidwell Women's Aid

The costs were a direct consequence of inadequate measures to prevent domestic violence occurring in the first place, said the group.

The cost of domestic violence to the Criminal Justice System is about �1bn a year, with social services spending an estimated �250m a year and the cost to the NHS to treat physical injuries and related effects about �1.2bn.

Women's Aid said it would welcome and support a public awareness campaign.

Its director, Hilary Sidwell, said: "This research clearly demonstrates that it costs a great deal more to ignore the reality of domestic violence than it would to put resources into preventing it from happening.

"We call on government to heed the findings of their own research and ensure that the new domestic violence strategy in Northern Ireland is properly funded and coordinated.

"Resources directed towards prevention, particularly in schools, will help us to achieve the goal of totally eradicating domestic violence."

In March this year, a report said the worst incidents of domestic violence in Northern Ireland were generally not reported to the police.

More than 3,000 people were interviewed for a survey published by the Northern Ireland Office.

It indicated that police were unaware of 84% of the most serious incidents which included being threatened with a weapon, being kicked or bitten, or an attempt made to strangle the person.

Women (16%) were also more likely to be victims than men (11%) with people living in Belfast also reporting a higher rate of victimisation than other parts of Northern Ireland.