Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 54: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of persons in prison and the number in each institution; the total number of prisoners not held in single cells or rooms and the number of these in each institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46616/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The information is as of 7 December 2010.

As the Deputy will appreciate the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts into its custody. It is the case that there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months during which time the total number in custody has increased by 365. This represents a rise of over 9% in the numbers in custody.

The Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces. Since 1997 in excess of 1,930 new prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill and the Dóchas Centre, new accommodation in Limerick, Portlaoise, Castlerea and Wheatfield prisons and at the open centres in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House.

The Irish Prison Service plans to commence construction later this month on a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise/Midlands prisons complex which will provide 300 prison spaces in the medium term. Work is also due to commence in the short term on converting an administrative building on the Dóchas site into a new accommodation block which will provide 70 spaces.

The Deputy will also be aware of the Government's commitment to developing a new prison campus at Thornton Hall, County Dublin. The new prison facility will provide accommodation for 1,400 prisoners with operational flexibility to accommodate up to 2,200 in a range of security settings.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of prisoners in total and in each institutions that are at present in custody; the number required to slop out; the number required to use normal toilet facilities in the presence of others; the number that are sole occupants of a cell that has a normal flush toilet installed or have access at all times to normal private toilet facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46617/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not currently available. It will be provided as soon as possible.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of prisoners in total in each institution that are locked up for 23 hours a day or more in a normal day for reason of protection, punishment or other reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46618/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The information is as of 7 December 2010.