Prison officials said last night that the dogs acted as a deterrent, and there had been a big fall-off in the number of visitors prepared to risk smuggling contraband, such as drugs and mobile phones, into the jails.
Feedback from inmates indicated that the contraband supply line had been almost severed and this had resulted in a number of incidents involving prisoners fighting among themselves, particularly in Mountjoy.
Ten canine units, made up of handlers and dogs, are currently operating behind bars and another six will be added before the end of the year.
The aim is to increase the overall strength of the service to 31 units within a year and a half.
The 10 existing units are providing full cover in Dublin jails, including Wheatfield, Cloverhill, Mountjoy, St Patrick's Institution and the Dochas centre for women. They are being backed up temporarily by private contractors, whose dogs operate in the Portlaoise, Midlands and Cork jails.
An additional 155 staff were also hired by the Department of Justice to implement a range of security measures, and trained to develop expertise in searching and gathering intelligence.
It is also intended to roll out the use of the 'boss' chair in all closed prisons following a pilot scheme in Cloverhill prison, Dublin. The 'boss' scans all prisoners for contraband secreted in their body cavities.
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