Written answers
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Prison Accommodation
9:00 pm
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 270: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners incarcerated on 1 November each year since 1986; and the number of beds in the prison service at that time. [34387/06]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context
The bed capacity and number of prisoners in prison custody for the dates requested are set out in the following table:
| Date | Design Capacity | Bed Capacity | Number in Custody |
| 1 November, 1986 | Not available | Not available | 1,901 |
| 1 November, 1987 | Not available | Not available | 1,934 |
| 1 November, 1988 | Not available | Not available | 1,958 |
| 1 November, 1989 | Not available | Not available | 2,057 |
| 1 November, 1990 | Not available | Not available | 2,131 |
| 1 November, 1991 | Not available | Not available | 2,141 |
| 1 November, 1992 | Not available | Not available | 2,161 |
| 1 November, 1993 | Not available | 2,224 | 2,111 |
| 1 November, 1994 | Not available | 2,233 | 2,142 |
| 1 November, 1995 | Not available | 2,195 | 2,113 |
| 1 November, 1996 | Not available | 2,251 | 2,256 |
| 1 November, 1997 | Not available | 2,358 | 2,463 |
| 1 November, 1998 | 2,385 | 2,793 | 2,793 |
| 1 November, 1999 | 2,382 | 2,798 | 2,767 |
| 1 November, 2000 | 3,372 | 3,771 | 2,971 |
| 1 November, 2001 | 3,372 | 3,509 | 3,177 |
| 1 November, 2002 | 3,372 | 3,489 | 3,163 |
| 1 November, 2003 | 3,312 | 3,412 | 3,208 |
| 1 November, 2004 | 3,291 | 3,336 | 3,209 |
| 1 November, 2005 | 3,293 | 3,352 | 3,070 |
The increase in bed capacity in the period 1997 to 1998 followed the opening of Castlerea Prison as well as additional places being provided in Wheatfield and the 'D' Wing in Limerick Prison. The opening of Cloverhill Prison, the Midlands Prison and Dochas Centre between late 1999 and 2000 is reflected in the increase in bed capacity from 1 November 1999 to 1 November 2000. In the following year, the bed capacity in Mountjoy reduced with the closure of the 'A' Wing and Separation Unit. The closure of Shanganagh Castle in late 2002 and The Curragh and Fort Mitchel Places of Detention in early 2004 led to further reductions. However, the impact of these closures was partly offset by the opening of the new 'C' Block in Limerick Prison which provided an additional 100 beds. In May 2005, following refurbishment, an additional 25 beds were made available in Loughan House.
The Deputy should note that as I have stated in previous replies, accommodating prisoners is not simply a matter of matching the global prisoner population to a global figure for beds or cells. A number of factors have to be taken into account including the prisoner's age, gender, the nature of the offence, location, security and whether they are on remand or sentenced. The opening of the new C Block in Portlaoise in 2007 will realise a further 150 spaces while new developments in Spike Island and Thornton will see a massive expansion in capacity, providing prisoners with predominantly single cell accommodation with in-cell sanitation facilities.
The excess of bed capacity over the design capacity became necessary to accommodate the ongoing demands of prison spaces during the periods concerned. The figures supplied illustrate a significant reduction in the differences between the design capacity and bed capacity of the system over the last number of years.
No comments