Prison Population.

Wednesday, 23 November 2005

Questions (44)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

78 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners in each of the State’s prisons for each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35728/05]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

The following table sets out the average number in custody in each institution for each year since 1997.

Institution	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Arbour Hill Prison	139	139	138	139	137	137	138	138
Castlerea Prison	25	109	195	190	N/A	193	195	210
Cloverhill Prison	—	—	—	213	386	386	375	392
Cork Prison	268	262	271	267	272	267	268	274
Curragh	72	94	93	94	100	92	98	8
Fort Mitchel	101	101	100	89	96	84	94	6
Limerick Prison (Male)	132	182	212	212	173	171	169	247
Limerick Prison (Female)	12	12	14	13	15	16	16	13
Loughan House	70	48	56	66	70	70	71	72
Midlands Prison	—	—	—	340	350	375	384	439
Mountjoy Prison (Male)	650	729	756	664	502	441	460	485
Mountjoy Prison (Female)	51	59	70	59	83	88	81	84
Portlaoise Prison	164	155	148	167	148	137	128	123
St. Patrick’s Institution	208	187	194	193	203	179	188	198
Shanganagh Castle	48	41	39	28	25	23	—	—
Shelton Abbey	47	47	46	25	27	47	50	49
Training Unit	85	85	87	89	89	91	86	87
Wheatfield Prison	350	360	368	368	368	368	375	374

The Deputy will be interested to note that on 17 November 2005 there was a total of 110 persons or 3% of the prison population on temporary release, excluding day release. The corresponding figure in October 1996 was 550 which accounted for 19% of the prison population at that time.

It is my intention to replace outdated prison accommodation with new facilities which will eliminate the practice of slopping out and also seek to eliminate the practice of doubling up in cells which is prevalent throughout the system.

As part of this process, I can confirm that a total of 150 new spaces are being provided in the new Portlaoise C block which is due to be completed in 2007. I can also advise the Deputy that estimates of future space requirements are being refined by the Irish Prison Service in the context of planning for the development of the new prison complexes at north county Dublin and Spike Island.