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Prison Statistics.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2006

Tuesday, 9 May 2006

Questions (328)

Billy Timmins

Question:

369 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number and location of prisons here; the number of prison spaces in each of these as of 4 May 2006; the number of prisoners in each of these by prison as of 4 May 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/06]

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Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table and refers to numbers at unlock on the morning of 4 May, 2006.

Institution

Bed Capacity

Number in Custody

Mountjoy Prison

445*

500

Dóchas Centre

85

96

St. Patrick’s Institution

217

192

Cork Prison

253

256

Limerick Prison (Male)

275

267

Limerick Prison (Female)

20

18

Castlerea Prison

206

214

Cloverhill Prison

433

403

Wheatfield Prison

372

361

Portlaoise Prison

188

112

Arbour Hill Prison

139

137

Training Unit

96

92

Midlands Prison

447

435

Loughan House

110

63

Shelton Abbey

56

50

Total

3,342

3,196

*Mountjoy Prison also has provision for an additional 45 spaces on the "A Wing" of the prison which are used whenever additional capacity is required. This accommodation was used on the date in question.

The provision of approximately 1,300 new prison spaces in recent years, at considerable cost, has put the Irish Prison Service in a much better position to accommodate prisoners for the duration of their sentences than was the case during the "revolving door" era of the 1990s. However, with most of our prisons operating at or near full capacity, some accommodation difficulties occur from time to time. It should also be noted that this issue is not simply one of matching the global prisoner population to a global figure for beds or cells. A number of factors have to be taken into account including the prisoner's age, gender, the nature of the offence, location, security and whether they are on remand or sentenced.

The Deputy will also be aware of plans for two major prison developments, one in North County Dublin and the other on Spike Island, Co. Cork. It is intended that these new facilities will address the overcrowding difficulties that arise from time to time and they will offer significant improvements in the areas of work, training, educational and medical services for inmates as well as predominantly single cell accommodation with proper in-cell sanitation facilities.

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