The Irish Prison Service is in talks with the Government about letting some prisoners out in the event of a coronavirus emergency.
The organisation, which has already announced restrictions on visits to prisons to reduce the risk of the virus spreading, said a confirmed case in a jail "would present significant challenges for prison management".
Therefore, it said it was discussing "contingency measures to to reduce the number of people in custody in a controlled manner".
Prisoners who pose a risk to public safety would not be considered for early release, it stressed.
In a statement tonight, the IPS said: "The unique environment of a prison and the sheer numbers and diversity of people who pass through our prisons make vigilance around infection prevention and control absolutely necessary.
"The Irish Prison Service announced yesterday that it was introducing restrictions regarding visits to our prisons to reduce risk of the virus spreading to staff, prisoners visitors, prisoner families, and the wider community.
"The confirmation of a case of COVID-19 in a prison setting would present significant challenges for prison management in terms of controlling the spread of the virus amongst staff and prisoners, and the provision of appropriate medical treatment to affected persons.
"In this regard, the Irish Prison Service is in discussion with the Department of Justice and Equality on a number of contingency measures to reduce the number of people in custody in a controlled manner.
"The primary factor in the consideration of any prisoner for early release is public safety and no prisoner would be granted temporary release who poses an undue risk to public safety."
