Two hundred and seventy-six people were imprisoned for not paying their debts last year, according to a report published today by the Free Legal Advice Centre.

The centre says the figures underline the need for urgent reform of Ireland’s “Dickensian” laws on debt enforcement.

It says the process of debt collection in Ireland almost seems designed to exclude the debtor from having a role and from understanding what is involved.

FLAC’s call for reform is being supported by the Irish Banking Federation, which says the current process causes unnecessary distress and wastes resources.