Five prisoners who were granted temporary release over Christmas have failed to return to jail.
The five were among 137 prisoners coming towards the end of their sentences who were allowed to spend Christmas with their families.
They were all due to return to prison by 27 December.
A Prison Service spokesman said all of the missing prisoners were due to be released shortly.
Two were due for release in February, two in March, and two by April 2008.
Two of the missing prisoners were from Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow, one was from Loughan House, Co Cavan, one was given temporary release from Limerick and the other from Mountjoy Jail.
