Inmates given almost €550,000 in 'bus money' over past five years after release from prison

Darragh Mc Donagh

Prisoners have been given almost €550,000 in ‘bus money’ to cover the cost of transport following their release from jail over the past five years, new figures have revealed.

The annual amount spent helping inmates get to their desired destinations after leaving prison has more than doubled since 2022 due to rising transport costs and a 25 per cent increase in releases.

Last year, the Irish Prison Service (IPS) spent €182,121 on bus, train and taxi fares for inmates upon their release from jail. This was a 16 per cent increase from the previous year, and more than double the €87,598 that was spent in 2022.

Prisoners receive ‘pocket money’ of up to €2.20 per day while serving custodial sentences, and can earn an additional €3.50 per week by engaging in work training activities.

Nearly €6.8 million in taxpayers’ cash was paid to inmates in pocket money over the past two years, while an additional €12.4 million was gifted to them by friends and family on the outside during the same period.

There was more than €1.5 million held in back accounts managed by the IPS on behalf of inmates at the beginning of this year, according to records released under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, if prisoners still need help getting to their desired destination following their release, the IPS can issue a travel voucher, which specifies a destination but not a monetary value.

“Upon release, the [IPS] provides support to assist prisoners in transitioning back into the community,” said a spokesman. “One aspect of this support is the provision of travel vouchers for those who need assistance reaching their destination.

The IPS is billed directly by transport providers, ensuring that “released individuals can travel without needing to cover the cost upfront, reducing barriers to reintegration," he explained.

The spokesman said the increase in the costs associated with post-release transport was likely attributable to price increases by travel providers, and a rise in the number of releases each year.

A total of 34,592 prisoners were released during the five years, with the annual number increasing by 26 per cent from 6,438 to 8,113 between 2022 and 2024.

The annual amount spent on ‘bus money’ for prisoners decreased from €78,200 in 2020 to €43,760 the following year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It increased to €87,598 in 2022 and soared to €156,791 in 2023.

Last year, it increased by another 16 per cent to €182,121.