Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2022
363. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the additional capacity for female prisoners in the Irish prison estate when the new female block opens in Limerick Prison in quarter 4 of 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21749/22]
View answerI am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the construction of the new women's prison forms part of a major redevelopment project currently underway at Limerick Prison.
The contract for this project was awarded in February 2019 with the construction element currently anticipated to be completed in the second quarter of this year.
This will be followed by the installation and commissioning of the various security and safety systems with the new facility expected to be operational in Q4 of this year.
The new female prison, which will have 50 new cells and will increase capacity by a minimum of 22 spaces for female prisoners, is a core element of the redevelopment project.
I can advise the Deputy that, on completion of the new female prison, the current female wing in Limerick Prison will close and this will result in the overall capacity for female prisoners across the prison estate rising from 174 to a minimum of 196.
Together with the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick Prison and the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of the new female prison in Limerick will result in over 200 new prison spaces being available before the end of this year.
