Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I wish to inform the Deputy that as of 17 September 2009 there were 3,947 permanent beds available in the prison system. On the same day there were 3,904 prisoners in custody. This represented an occupancy level of 99%. The table circulated with this reply provides a breakdown of the population of each prison and place of detention. There has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population in recent years. This situation has been particularly apparent in the past 12 months during which the total number in custody has increased by 306. This represents an 8.5% rise in the number in custody.

There are a number of reasons for this increase. With the extra resources provided by this Government, the Garda Síochána has been increasingly successful in prosecuting criminals and extra court sittings have resulted in higher committal rates. The Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure. This has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces. Since 1997, in excess of 1,400 additional spaces have been introduced in the prison system including a new accommodation block for 100 prisoners recently opened at Castlerea Prison. Furthermore, current projects will also provide the potential for an additional 450 prison spaces during 2009 by means of a new block in Portlaoise Prison which will have the potential to accommodate approximately 200 prisoners; a new block in Wheatfield Prison which will also have the potential to accommodate approximately 200 prisoners; and opening the separation unit in Mountjoy Prison which will have the potential to accommodate 50 prisoners.

In the longer term, the Government recently reaffirmed its commitment to developing a new prison campus at Thornton Hall, and approved the launching of a new tendering process for the construction of a more affordable and better value prison campus at Thornton. The revised plans for the new prison complex aim to provide good quality, regime focussed accommodation with appropriate support and rehabilitation facilities to prepare prisoners for reintegration back into society. The new facility will provide accommodation for 1,400 prisoners with operational flexibility to accommodate up to 2,200 prisoners in a range of security settings. There are also long-term plans to replace Cork prison with a new prison at Kilworth.

The design, tendering for and construction of a large prison complex is a lengthy process. It will be two to three years after signing a contract before Thornton Hall would be available. Consideration is being given to expanding capacity at the Midlands prison if further spaces are required before Thornton Hall enters into operation.

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