Jim Higgins
Question:194 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the official prisoner capacity of each of the prisons; and the number of prisoners in each prison on Friday, 11 December 1998. [28090/98]
Written Answers. - Prison Accommodation.
The capacity of each of the prisons and the number of prisoners in each prison on Friday, 11 December 1998 is outlined in the table below.
|
Institution |
Design Capacity |
Bed Capacity |
No. in Custody on 11/12/98 |
|
Mountjoy-male |
547 |
670 |
734 |
|
Mountjoy-female |
60 |
60 |
66 |
|
St Patrick's |
165 |
172 |
192 |
|
Cork |
150 |
270 |
250 |
|
Limerick-male |
133 |
200 |
194 |
|
Limerick-female |
12 |
12 |
15 |
|
Castlerea |
183 |
182 |
170 |
|
Wheatfield |
320 |
360 |
354 |
|
Portlaise |
205 |
231 |
145 |
|
Arbour Hill |
141 |
141 |
140 |
|
Fort Mitchel |
102 |
102 |
101 |
|
Training Unit |
96 |
96 |
74 |
|
Curragh |
68 |
94 |
94 |
|
Loughan |
85 |
85 |
63 |
|
Shanganagh |
60 |
60 |
40 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
58 |
58 |
47 |
|
Totals |
2,385 |
2,793 |
2,679 |
In the period since I took office, the Government approved prisons building programme in place at my Department, has already produced an additional 212 places at Castlerea and Limerick Prisons. That building programme is on target to complete a further 480 places by early next year at the new remand prison at Cloverhill and the new women's prison beside Mountjoy, and, thereafter, before the end of 1999, an additional 515 places at the new Midlands Prison, Portlaoise. Thus, a total of 995 additional new prison places will be completed between now and the end of 1999.