Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
611. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total prison population at present; the extent to which the numbers have fluctuated in the past ten years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19584/14]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that on 29th April, 2014 there were 4,031 prisoners in custody against a bed capacity of 4,175 which represented an occupancy level of 97%. The average number of prisoners in custody in Ireland has risen in the last 10 years, from 3,199 during 2004 to 4,158 during 2013, an increase of over 29%. Likewise the total number of committals to prison has also risen sharply during the same period, from 10,657 in 2004 to 17,026 in 2012 – an increase of over 59%. However the trend of increasing committals to prison seems to have abated. 2013 saw the first significant decrease in prison numbers since 2007. There were 15,735 committals to prison in 2013 which is a decrease of 7.6% on the 2012 total of 17,026.
Significant investment has taken place in our prison estate in recent years with in excess of 900 new prison spaces having been constructed and brought into use since 2007. Most recently, a new accommodation block at the Midlands Prison which has provided an additional 300 additional spaces, open in 2012. As outlined in the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan, it is intended to align the capacity of our prisons with the guidelines laid down by the Inspector of Prisons by 2014, in so far as this is compatible with public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system. In 2012 and 2013, priority was given to reducing overcrowding in Mountjoy, Cork, Limerick Prisons and the Dóchas Centre.
The Strategy also contains a commitment to implement a 40 month capital plan to provide in-cell sanitation in all cells and radically improve prison conditions in the older parts of the prison estate. Included in the Plan is the replacement of Cork Prison with a new prison built on the site of the current car park and adjacent green-field site. The new prison will have an average daily capacity of circa 275 prisoners which is broadly similar to the current daily average. The plan also includes the proposed demolition of the early 19th century “A” & “B” blocks in Limerick and replacement with modern accommodation and related facilities will eliminate the practice of “slopping-out” and alleviate the current overcrowding difficulties.
You will be aware that I have announced a number of initiatives and programmes to alleviate over-crowding in the prison system. The Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan also outlines a number of measures to be undertaken including the Community Return Scheme, a closer working relationship with the Probation Service and a more structured approach to Temporary Release.
