226 inmates at jails around the country will be given temporary release for Christmas.

That is about 4% of the total prisoner population.

Of those being released about 3/4 are serving their sentences in lower-security institutions.

The periods of release vary from a few hours to 7 nights and all releases are subject to stringent conditions.

The total number of inmates released is the largest in recent years.

The Department of Justice says the increase "is representative of the successful roll-out in all prisons of the Incentivised Regimes policy, which provides for a differentiation of privileges between prisoners according to their level of engagement with services and quality of behaviour".

Public interest 'overriding concern'

Those being let out are also nearing the end of their sentences and the Department says the overriding concern when considering applications is the safety of the public.

It adds that other criteria taken into account include the nature and gravity of the offence, length of sentence served to date, prior record on temporary release, behaviour while in custody and previous criminal history.

It also says that any offender who breaks their conditions may be arrested and returned immediately to prison by the Gardaí.