Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2025
128. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice his response to the Prison Officers' Association statement that overcrowding has passed the point at which prisons can be safely operated; and what additional staffing or overtime resources will be provided in budget 2026. [21480/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons and we have committed to increasing capacity by 1,500 under the Programme for Government. This work has already commenced.
An increase of €79m (18%) was secured in Budget 2025 towards a total of €525m in funding to increase prison capacity and tackle overcrowding. The Irish Prison Service capital budget is €53m in 2025. This is an increase of €22.5m on the original 2024 allocation, focused on bringing additional prison spaces into the system.
Since 2022, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by more than 300 new spaces with over 139 delivered in the last 12 months. More than 90 additional spaces are to be added in 2025.
While I cannot pre-empt any budgetary decision, investment in recruitment and the use of additional hours must continue to help make our prisons safe for those who work and live in them.
The Irish Prison Service aims to recruit 300 prison officers in 2025, in addition to the 271 prison officers recruited in 2024. The IPS will launch its next recruitment campaign this summer.
An additional €6.2m has been provided to fund 130,000 additional staff hours in prisons to support prison operations and safety and security across the prison estate.
These actions form part of one of the fastest-ever expansions of prison capacity in Ireland.
Further, a Prison Overcrowding Response Group was established in July 2023, and is composed of officials from the Department of Justice and representatives from relevant agencies. The Group considered measures to address capacity issues in the prison estate. In June 2024, following a report from this Group, a range of actions were agreed and work to implement these is ongoing.
A Working Group was established in the second half of 2024 to further consider future prison capacity needs and to make recommendations on the numbers and types of prison capacity needed up to 2035.
The Government is also committed to progressing and implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of community sanctions, reducing offending, diverting people away from the criminal justice system, and providing effective rehabilitation.
