Prison Service defends €550k cost of TV and channel services for inmates

The inside of a prison cell at Cork Prison. According to newly-released data, 2,304 'in cell' TV sets were provided to prisons last year, costing a total of €445,272.71. Picture: Dan Linehan

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has defended the soaring costs of providing televisions and premium channels to the nation's inmates, after taxpayers were billed over €550,000 last year.

Just over €551,000 was spent by prison chiefs in 2023 to supply prisoners with both TVs and access to multi-channel services like Sky Sports and Netflix. The figure represents an increase from 2022 when €500,000 was spent and an even bigger hike from the previous year's bill of just under €320,000.