Seán Power
Question:178 Mr. Power asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of pris oners on 1 February 2000; the way in which this compares with previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4472/00]
Written Answers. - Prisoner Statistics.
Analysis of Prisoner Population
|
Institution |
2 February |
1 February |
1 February |
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
Mountjoy Prison (Male) |
722 |
741 |
745 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (Female) |
68 |
63 |
66 |
|
St Patrick's Institution |
186 |
194 |
212 |
|
Cork Prison |
273 |
271 |
260 |
|
Limerick Prison (Male) |
140 |
192 |
213 |
|
Limerick Prison (Female) |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
35 |
176 |
182 |
|
Cloverhill Prison |
N/A* |
N/A* |
59 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
160 |
147 |
162 |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
141 |
139 |
137 |
|
Wheatfield POD |
360 |
353 |
353 |
|
Fort Mitchel |
103 |
100 |
98 |
|
Training Unit |
88 |
73 |
89 |
|
The Curragh |
96 |
92 |
89 |
|
Loughan House |
53 |
29 |
55 |
|
Shanganagh Castle |
29 |
34 |
33 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
35 |
34 |
40 |
|
Total |
2,502 |
2,652 |
2,808 |
*Cloverhill Prison was not open at this stage.
There were 220 prisoners on temporary release on 1 February 2000 of whom 181 were male offenders and 39 were female. This represents 7% of the total number of prisoners serving a sentence on that day and also, incidentally, represents a considerable reduction over the past two years in the proportion of prisoners on temporary release – in February 1998 the figure stood at 506 which represented 17% of the total prison population.
I am advised that the levels of overcrowding experienced in the last number of years are expected to diminish as the current prison building programme progresses. The population of Cloverhill Prison will continue to increase in a controlled fashion by transferring groups of prisoners from Mountjoy. When fully operational, all remand prisoners will be committed directly to this prison. In addition, the new women's prison, known as "The Dóchas Centre", is now fully operational. This has created a further 60 spaces which have reverted to St. Patrick's Institution. A further 515 places will also become available in the near future with the opening of the new midlands prison at Portlaoise.
In addition, planning for the refurbishment of Mountjoy prison is under way, with the intention of providing single-cell accommodation for all prisoners. The provision of a new range of work training, education and recreational facilities is also included in the refurbishment.