Almost 700 people were prosecuted for dodging fares and using fake travel passes last year, new statistics have revealed.

As reported in the Irish Independent, the figures from the Courts Service show that Irish Rail prosecuted 170 people. Dublin Bus brought 142 people to court.

Luas operators Veolia, meanwhile, prosecuted 174 people. 

The stats also show that 14,307 people were prosecuted against for not paying their TV licence fee in 2013 - an increase of more than 2,500 people compared to 2012. 

As had previously been revealed, 411 were sent to prison for their failure to pay. That compares to 272 for 2012, while just 49 people were jailed six years ago.

Some of the other statistics - which encompass data for prosecutions by organisations other than the gardaí or DPP - reveal that more than 420 people were prosecuted for social welfare fraud, while 108 parents were prosecuted for not sending their children to school.