Over €780,000 in pocket money was given to inmates at the two Midlands Prisons last year.
Over €780,000 in pocket money was given to inmates at the two Midlands Prisons last year.
€604,000 was distributed in the Midlands prison with a further 180,000 given to prisoners in Portlaoise prison.
It represents a 26% increase on 2017 and is the highest pay out figure from a total of €2.8m across the country.
A standard rate of €1.70 a day is given to prisoners – with an increase to €2.20 or decrease to 95c available depending on their behaviour.
Inmates can then use the pocket money to buy items such as cigarettes and sweets or to rent a TV from the Irish Prison Service.
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