Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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542. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of days that the school was open in each of Ireland's prisons, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48223/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service but the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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543. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason that the number of remand prisoners is so low in Portlaoise Prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48224/22]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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544. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline the bed capacity at which Portlaoise Prison has operated in each month of 2022; the way that this compares with other prisons in Ireland; the reason for Portlaoise Prison operating at three-quarters capacity while others are over capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48225/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 543 and 544 together.

I can advise the Deputy that Section 17(3) of the Criminal Justice Administration Act 1914, commonly known as the consolidated committal order, determines the prison to which a prisoner can be committed. This order currently determines that only male persons committed to prison on remand, pending trial or sentence by the Special Criminal Court shall be committed to Portlaoise Prison. Due to the smaller number of sittings of this court compared to other courts, there are fewer remand and trial prisoners in custody in Portlaoise prison than other prisons.

I am informed by the Prison Service that on a regular basis, for a number of reasons, including sentence management and security and for operational reasons, prisoners are transferred into Portlaoise Prison from other locations to serve their sentence.

The total bed capacity of Portlaoise Prison is currently 291, with 40 in A Block, 181 in C Block and 70 in E Block.

The Deputy may be aware that the E Block in Portlaoise Prison accommodates subversive prisoners only. That wing has a bed capacity of 70 and currently has 10 prisoners accommodated on it. For operational and security reasons other prisoners are not accommodated on this Block.

I can advise the Deputy that the other landings in Portlaoise Prison namely A and C Block have been operating at full or near full capacity for a considerable length of time. On the 3 October 2022 there were 31 and 180 prisoners accommodated in A and C Block, respectively.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the average numbers in custody in Portlaoise Prison for the period Jan to Sept 2022 is set out in the table below.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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545. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to develop all prisons; the timing of such a development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48226/22]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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546. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to expand remand capacity at Cloverhill Prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48227/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 546 together.

As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service has set out ambitious plans to modernise the prison estate in successive Strategic Plans. The Government has provided significant capital funding to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure, eliminate the practice known as slopping out and to provide additional capacity where required.

The Deputy will be aware of the works completed in recent years to modernise the entire Mountjoy Prison complex, the construction of a new prison in Cork and the provision of additional prisoner accommodation in the Midlands Prison. In addition, the Training Unit Place of Detention which is newly refurbished has now reopened as a centre for older prisoners.

Additional works on prison infrastructure such as enhancements to kitchen and laundry facilities, upgrades to fire and safety systems, improvements to CCTV and security systems, prison window replacement and enhancement to ICT infrastructure have also been completed across the prison estate during the lifetime of recent Strategic Plans.

A major capital development project at Limerick Prison is due for completion by the end of 2022. This will provide greatly enhanced accommodation for both male and female prisoners and will include the provision of other ancillary services for prisoners including workshops, new laundry and prison kitchen. Staff facilities will also be catered for in the provision of a staff canteen, locker rooms and administration support offices.

The Irish Prison Service has now commenced work on the development of a new Strategic Plan for 2023 – 2025 which will include specific strategic objectives on further enhancing the prison estate.

The commitments included in the new Strategic Plan will be in line with funding allocated to the Irish Prison Service in the current National Development Plan.

In relation to prison developments the National Development Plan includes:

- Investment for the improvement of facilities in Shelton Abbey, Loughan House Open Centre, the Dóchas Centre, and Wheatfield Place of Detention;

- Priority projects at Castlerea and Portlaoise Prisons in respect of the necessary construction of new kitchens; and

- Other investment to be progressed over the years 2022 to 2025 include, ICT infrastructure and systems, fleet modernisation, video-linking infrastructure, safety, security and carbon reduction refurbishment works and general upgrading of equipment and facilities.

All such developments are subject to cost benefit analysis and are progressed in line with the Public Spending Code obligations.

As the Deputy will be aware significant growth has been experienced in the remand prison population in recent years which has resulted in significant pressure on remand prison facilities including Cloverhill Prison. The Irish Prison Service is currently undertaking a strategic assessment exercise on the potential for additional accommodation at Cloverhill Prison in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.