Reducing barriers to the labour market for those leaving prison would assist employers to find new talent and help cut reoffending, a conference has heard.

Almost 22,000 offenders have been supported by a community organisation over the last five years, with 13,000 placed in employment, education, or training.

A group that works with marginalised young men has said that the Portuguese model of not criminalising people for possessing drugs would have a “positive impact”, especially for those trying to overcome their addiction.

An integration project says their programme for released inmates costs 70 times less than keeping them detained in prisons.

The Irish Association for the Social Integration of Offenders has said it has assisted more than 11,200 former offenders since 2000.