Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011
48 Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an individual breakdown of the recommended capacity of each prison; the current number of inmates incarcerated in them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31110/11]
View answerI am informed by the Irish Prison Service that there were 4,275 prisoners in custody on 20 October, 2011 against a bed capacity of 4,510. This represents an occupancy level of 95%. The information requested with the breakdown per prison is set out in the attached table.
As the Deputy may be aware, there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population in Ireland over recent years, with dramatic increases in the number of sentenced prisoners, those being committed on remand and a trend towards longer sentences. The problem of prison overcrowding therefore remains a challenging issue which unfortunately cannot be resolved overnight.
I share the view of the Thornton Hall Review Group that decisive action is required on a number of fronts in order to address the problem of overcrowding and poor physical conditions particularly in Mountjoy and Cork Prisons. As the Deputy will know, the Government has decided in principle to proceed with the construction of new prison facilities at Thornton Hall and also at Kilworth, County Cork, albeit on a much smaller scale and design to that previously envisaged. The timeframe for this project is currently being discussed in the context of the Government's discussions on capital spending priorities for 2012.
The State has also been engaged in an ongoing capital programme with almost 600 additional prisoner spaces constructed and brought into use since January 2008. There are a number of ongoing projects, most notably the construction of a new accommodation block at the Midlands prison. This will provide a potential 300 spaces, a new kitchen and work training/education block, and an extension to the visits/reception areas. It is planned to have the new block fully commissioned by mid 2012. An administrative building on the Dóchas site has also just been converted into a new accommodation block which will provide 70 spaces. These will become operational next month.
|
Institution |
Bed Capacity |
Number in Custody |
% of Bed Capacity |
|
Mountjoy (m) |
590 |
588 |
100% |
|
Mountjoy (f) |
105 |
117 |
111% |
|
St. Patrick’s |
217 |
186 |
86% |
|
Cork |
272 |
281 |
103% |
|
Limerick (m) |
290 |
293 |
101% |
|
Limerick (f) |
34 |
27 |
79% |
|
Castlerea |
351 |
356 |
101% |
|
Cloverhill |
431 |
418 |
97% |
|
Wheatfield |
700 |
679 |
97% |
|
Portlaoise |
359 |
256 |
71% |
|
Arbour Hill |
148 |
149 |
101% |
|
Midlands |
616 |
598 |
97% |
|
Training Unit |
127 |
113 |
89% |
|
Loughan House |
160 |
110 |
69% |
|
Shelton Abbey |
110 |
104 |
95% |
|
Total |
4,510 |
4,275 |
95% |
