Integration‘70 times cheaper’ than prison

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 (IASIO) said that it found work or training for more than 9,000 ex-prisoners over the last 12 years.

Chairman Patrick Lynch said its annual cost per client was €1,152, compared to an average annual cost per prisoner of €80,000.