Footballs for prisoners cost taxpayers €80k in past 2 years

Prisoners’ kickabouts have cost taxpayers more than €80,000 on footballs alone in the past two years.

Figures from Prison Service show the cost of new balls has increased from almost €36,000 in 2010 to nearly €46,000 last year.

The expenditure was part of a €770,000 sports budget for the prison system in 2010 and 2011.