Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Jul 1995

Vol. 455 No. 4

Written Answers. - Detention Places.

Ivor Callely

Question:

120 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the total number and location of detention places; if her attention has been drawn to the serious concern and frustration of prison staff in view of overcrowding; the steps, if any, she will take to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12191/95]

There is a total of 2,210 detention spaces within the 12 prisons places of detention throughout the country. Their location and capacity are as follows:

Institution

Address

Capacity

Mountjoy prison

North Circular Road,

612 males

Dublin 7.

40 females

Limerick prison

Mulgrave Street,

120 males

Limerick.

12 females

Cork prison

Rathmore Road,

250 males

Cork.

Arbour Hill prison

Arbour Hill,

130 males

Dublin 7.

Portlaoise prison

Dublin Road,

207 males

Portlaoise.

Training unit

Glengarriff Parade,

96 males

Dublin 7.

Shelton Abbey

Arklow,

54 males

Co. Wicklow.

St. Patrick's Institution

North Circular Road,Dublin 7.

122 males

Shanganagh Castle

Shankill,

60 males

Co. Dublin.

Loughan House

Blacklion,

85 males

Co. Cavan.

Fort Mitchel

Spike Island,

102 males

Cobh,

Co. Cork.

Place of Detention,

Cloverhill Road,

320 males

Wheatfield.

Clondalkin,

Dublin 22.

In my Department's policy document The Management of Offenders — A Five Year Plan published last June, it was acknowledged that there was not enough prison places to hold all offenders in custody for the full length of sentence without overcrowding. The plan put forward a three-pronged strategy to enable the prison system to achieve: (a) the provision of additional prison places; (b) a change over to a system of planned and programmed early releases under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service and (c) greater reliance on community sanctions and other non-custodial measures imposed at the court stage to ensure that prison places are reserved for offenders for whom no other option is feasible.
A programme of refurbishment and upgrading of existing accommodation is also being undertaken.
The Deputy will be aware that the additional prison places envisaged will not, now, be available as soon as it was intended. This matter is, however, still under review.
Top
Share