Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding prison capacity compared with prisoner numbers in each of the prisons here; the action he proposes to take in the short, medium and long-term to address the issue of prison overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14602/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On 14 April, 2009, there were 3,849 prisoners in custody as compared to a bed capacity of 3,636. This represents an occupancy level of 106%. The following table provides a breakdown of the population of each prison/place of detention on 14 April, 2009:

The prison system is, of course, subject to peaks and troughs. Numbers are particularly high when the courts are at their busiest, giving rise to a high number of committals. There has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months, where we have seen dramatic increases in the number of sentenced prisoners, those being committed on remand and a trend towards longer sentences. What is clear is that there is a trend of increased committals from the courts.

It has to be acknowledged that the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts. For example, figures show, over the past 12 years, the numbers in custody have increased by 65%.

I acknowledge that our prisons are operating in excess of our bed capacity at this time. It is also evident that the continuation of the current capital programme is necessary if overcrowding is not to become a problem going forward.

The need for the continuation of the current building programme is set against a background whereby since 1997 in excess of 1,300 prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick Prison.

However, given the serious pressure that the Prison Service has been experiencing during the last 12-18 months, in 2008 it became necessary to introduce additional contingency accommodation through the doubling up of cells in Mountjoy, Wheatfield, Cloverhill, Midlands and Arbour Hill Prisons and in the Training Unit. This provided 180 temporary bed spaces. Also in 2008, 70 new prison spaces were introduced at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House Open Centres.

As the pressure shows no sign of abating the Irish Prison Service recently decided to increase their capacities through the doubling up of further cells in Mountjoy, Wheatfield, Cloverhill, Midlands and Arbour Hill Prisons and in the Training Unit, thus creating 200 additional temporary bed spaces, some of which are already in place and others coming on stream shortly.

Furthermore, building projects in Castlerea, Wheatfield and Portlaoise Prisons are due to be completed in the coming months. This will create an additional 400 extra spaces which will temporarily alleviate the situation pending the construction of new prisons at Thornton Hall, Co. Dublin and Kilworth, Co. Cork. It is my strong view that the continuation of the current capital programme is essential if we are to limit, as far as practicable, overcrowding so that we can accommodate our prisoner population is regime orientated modern prisons.