Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
590. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of prisoners currently incarcerated throughout the country; if all or many occupy shared or unshared cells; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16708/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service perform a quarterly census of the Prison estate and publish the results on their website at www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-information/census-reports/
According to the latest census which was carried out on 18 January 2022, there were 3,389 usable cells across the estate.
Table 1 below provides a breakdown by prison of all usable cells as at 18th January 2022.
|
Prison |
In Custody |
Usable Cells |
1 Prisoner per cell |
2 Prisoners per cell |
3 Prisoners per cell |
4+ Prisoners per cell |
|
Arbour Hill |
129 |
116 |
97 |
32 |
0 |
0 |
|
Castlerea |
284 |
206 |
84 |
200 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cloverhill |
389 |
205 |
68 |
104 |
213 |
4 |
|
Cork |
250 |
170 |
62 |
188 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick Female |
31 |
25 |
17 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick Male |
195 |
207 |
89 |
106 |
0 |
0 |
|
Loughan |
90 |
111 |
90 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Midlands |
830 |
587 |
325 |
470 |
15 |
20 |
|
Mountjoy Female |
113 |
97 |
55 |
58 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mountjoy Male |
682 |
755 |
682 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Portlaoise |
210 |
271 |
146 |
64 |
0 |
0 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
87 |
58 |
36 |
16 |
15 |
20 |
|
Wheatfield |
485 |
581 |
279 |
206 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
3,775 |
3,389 |
2,030 |
1,458 |
243 |
44 |
The key statistics from the Census relating to usable cells are as follows:
- There were 3,775 prisoners in custody.
- 2,030 (54%) cells accommodated one prisoner.
- 729 cells accommodated two prisoners (1,458 prisoners).
- 81 cells accommodated three prisoners (243 prisoners).
- 11 cells accommodated four or more prisoners (84 prisoners).
- 2 prisoners accommodated in Safety Observation Cell.
- 8 prisoners accommodated in Close Supervision Cells.
The Irish Prison Service are currently progressing a number of projects that will deliver additional prisoner spaces over the next twelve months. These projects include the reopening of the Training Unit to accommodate older prisoners, and will see 96 prisoner spaces return to operation.
In addition, the construction of a new male wing and a female prison is underway in Limerick Prison and will provide 90 additional male and 40 additional female cell spaces. This is expected to be completed by the end of Summer 2022 and the new accommodation will become operational by the end of quarter 4 of 2022. This timeline assumes no further impact on construction activity or supply chain issues due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
