Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Off the top of my head from the plans, approximately 30 cells are intended and designed for single-cell occupancy. They will deal with the type of issue which Deputy Wallace or Deputy O’Sullivan raised about an individual who might be drug-addicted who needs to come off drugs and to provide for single-cell occupancy in those circumstances or other circumstances where that might be necessary. For example, one might have a prisoner on protection or in need of protection. If we reduce the number of prisoners, what are currently designed as double-occupancy cells might in future become single-occupancy cells. What has been achieved in Mountjoy Prison in the past two years is extraordinary. When I came into office the belief was that one could not provide in-cell sanitation in Mountjoy and that one could not provide for the huge amount of restoration and change that has occurred. A revolution is taking place within that prison to the benefit not just simply of prisoners but of the wider community as well.

See this speech in context