Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 267: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cell capacity of every prison here in tabular form. [12857/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been a significant increase in the provision of prison spaces in the last 10 to 12 years. In that period close to 1,400 new prison spaces have been provided representing a significant investment in modern prison accommodation. In addition, an additional 400 extra spaces will be provided at Castlerea, Wheatfield and Portlaoise in the coming months. That said, overcrowding is an issue with the numbers in custody increasing by 65% over the last 12 years. We must maximise the available prison space since the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed to their custody by the Courts.

The cell capacity of all prisons throughout the prison estate that presently can be used for occupancy are set out in the table below. This does not include special observation or close supervision cells. When looking at prison capacity and bearing in mind that not all cells are single occupancy cells, the bed capacity figure for each prison gives a much more accurate picture. Accordingly, details of the bed and the cell/room capacity of each prison are set out in the table.