Figures show high level of drug seizures in Irish prisons

New figures show over 4,000 drug seizures were recorded at the country's jails over a three-year period.

The highest level of incidents were recorded at Dublin's Mountjoy jail.

Authorities at Irish prisons introduced a new system of detecting drugs in their facilities in the summer of 2008.

Anyone entering or leaving a jail faces airport-style searches, while sniffer dogs are also on hand.

Figures from the Department of Justice show that from the start of 2009 up to February 26 last year, 4,275 drug seizures were recorded at prisons across the state.

Staff at Mountjoy in Dublin recovered drugs on 1,661 occasions.

Limerick Prison came second with 536 seizures, while St Patricks' Institution for young offenders in Dublin ranked third, with 525 incidents.

Details of the type of drug which were seized have not been released.

The figures were released to Sinn Féin's justice spokesman Jonathan O'Brien after he submitted a Dáil question.