The Department of Justice is to "vigorously" contest an estimated 300 compensation claims from prisoners who say their human rights were violated due to the practice of slopping out.
The claims have been lodged since a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights earlier this year in favour of a Scottish prisoner who was awarded about €5,000 in compensation.
The majority of cases lodged so far relate to prisoners in Cork, Limerick and Portlaoise prisons.
Officials, however, say the conditions of detention in the Scottish case do not apply to the situation in Ireland.
The prisoner in the case, Mr Robert Napier, claimed prisoners had to use a chamber pot in their cells; prison cells were overcrowded; and there was a restricted programme of daily activities.
He also successfully claimed that he suffered a serious outbreak of eczema during his detention, which was exacerbated by the prison conditions.
The solicitor behind the vast majority of the actions, Mr John Devane, has said he is confident his action will succeed.
The Limerick-based solicitor, who was also featured in a large number of Army deafness claims, was unavailable for comment yesterday. He has predicted that the cases will cost the State "millions upon millions".
Slopping out still takes place in Mountjoy, Portlaoise and Cork prisons. The Irish Prison Service director, Mr Seán Aylward, has said it is hoped the practice will have ceased within three years.
The Scottish Executive, which is also facing a large number of legal actions, says it believes it has successful grounds upon which to appeal the European Court of Human Rights ruling.
