asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of prisons in Ireland, (b) the year each was built, (c) the number of prisoners each was built to accommodate and (d) the number of persons presently accommodated in each.
Written Answers. - Prison Statistics.
222.
The total number of prisons and places of detention administered by my Department is nine. The information required is shown on tabular sheet hereunder:
|
Name of Prison or place of detention |
Year in which built or opened as a prison or detention centre |
Number of cells |
Population on 25/4/80 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (Male) |
Circa 1850 |
461 |
420 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (Female) |
,,,, |
23 |
17 |
|
Limerick Prison (Male) |
Circa 1830 |
89* |
122 |
|
Limerick Prison (Female) |
,,,, |
15 |
11 |
|
Cork Prison |
Former military detention barracks opened as a civilian prison in 1972. |
41 (90 when re-building is completed). |
39 |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
Former military detention barracks opened as a civilian prison in 1975. |
101 |
90 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
Circa 1905 |
189* |
193 |
|
Training Unit |
1974 |
96 (64 at present). |
63 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
Former forestry training school. Opened as a place of open custody in 1973. |
40** |
39 |
|
St. Patrick's Institution |
Former womens' prison built circa 1850. Opened to provide custody for boys aged 16 to 21 in 1956. |
222 (188 at present because of reconstruction work in progress). |
175 |
|
Shanganagh Castle |
Former Preparatory |
55** |
43 |
|
College. Opened to provide open custody for boys aged 16 to 21 in 1968. |
* This figure includes a number of cells intended for multiple occupancy.
** In these institutions offenders are accommodated in rooms designed for multiple occupancy.