Since 2014 the Irish Prison Service has bought 2,505 televisions for inmates at a cost of over €440,000.

Figures from the Irish Prison Service released to the Irish Examiner under a Freedom of Information request also revealed 170,000 has been spent on Sky Sports and other TV channels.

Prisoners pay €1.05 to rent a TV for their cell which gets them a basic television package, while access to Sky Sports is only available for well behaved prisoners.

Feena Ni Chinneide from the Irish Penal Reform Trust has said, since their introduction in 2002, televisions have majorly improved the situation in prisons.

“One of the main purposes of it was to reduce the incidents of self harm in cells and particularly deaths through self harm,” said Ni Chinneide.

“Certainly the introduction on televisions in cells has reduced these deaths.

“The other key benefit has been lessening the tension on landings, it makes a safer working environment for prison staff.”