The Irish Prisons Service has said 293 prisoners have left jails without permission since 2010.
While most were either captured or returned voluntarily, 15 prisoners remain at large.
Information provided by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald in response to a parliamentary question shows:
* 112 prisoners went missing in 2010 and seven remain at large,
* 86 prisoners went missing in 2011 and one remains at large,
* 63 prisoners went missing in 2012 and two remain at large,
* 18 prisoners went missing in 2013 and none remain at large,
* 11 prisoners went missing in 2014 and two remain at large,
* Three prisoners have gone missing this year and none has as yet been returned.
Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan, who submitted the question, said he was seeking details of the type of crimes committed by those on-the-run from Irish prisons.
Mr Durkan said he wanted to know what crimes these 15 on-the-run prisoners were convicted for and from which prisons they escaped.
Mr Durkan has been collecting data on prison escapes for several years.
“I will be tabling another question to know what these 15 have done”, he said. Mr Durkan said he also wanted to know which prisons the inmates had left as there may be security issues involved.
Since 2012,the Irish Prison Service has established a project team to examine how the service might reduce the number of prisoners unlawfully at large, and its work has led to the re-committal of a number of prisoners.
Mr Durkan said he was also concerned about the number of prisoners who committed further crimes while on bail awaiting trial or on early release from jail.
The deputy said he was aware of a case where a prisoner on early release and a suspect on bail went on to each kill a person.
Mr Durkan said he believed a change in bail laws was necessary to to address this.
Mr Durkan also said he wanted to see all first-time offenders given access to rehabilitation services which he said were vital in ensuring people do not re-offend.
