Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

195. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on the measures she intends to take to end overcrowding in prisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19620/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.

The Irish Prison Service is working closely with officials in my Department to take steps to ensure a safe working environment for staff and the safety and security of all those in custody.

The Irish Prison Service has set out a range of objectives in its Strategy 2023-2027 in relation to prisoner pathways, including identifying short, medium and long term capacity and policy opportunities to deal with the increase in numbers through implementing their national flow plan, addressing escort capacity and further developing infrastructure to meet capacity requirements.

Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and appropriate use of structured Temporary Release.

The criteria for participation in the Community Return and Community Support Schemes were reviewed last year and additional prisoners are now eligible for assessment for suitability to participate on these structured and supported schemes.

In this regard I can assure the Deputy that decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.

While focused on rehabilitation and reducing offending, we are continuing to invest in our prison estate, to ensure that it is modern, fit for purpose and has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity.

In recent years, works have been completed to modernise the Mountjoy complex, a new prison was constructed in Cork and additional prisoner accommodation was provided in the Midlands Prison.

Furthermore, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 200 new spaces in recent years through the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick and the new standalone female prison in Limerick.

Plans have been outlined for 4 capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons to accommodate up to 670 people.

I recently secured additional capital funding of €49.5m to deliver these very significant capital commitments to allow the Irish Prison Service to address current capacity issues within our prison system and ensure it is fit-for-purpose for a growing population in the years to come.

Preparatory work will commence this year on these 4 key projects as part of an accelerated capital construction programme.

The additional capital funding will also be used to advance short term projects currently being pursued by the Prison Service that are expected to deliver over 150 spaces this year.

I can assure the Deputy that I am also committed to looking at all potential options to meet current and future needs.

I am establishing a new review group to make recommendations on other future developments, including at Thornton Hall.

In addition, a Prison Overcrowding Response Group has been established, with officials from across the Department, the Irish Prison Service, Probation Service, Courts Service, and An Garda Síochána this group is continuing to examine proposals to address overcrowding.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate that the Irish Prison Service must make the best use of all available prison capacity, particularly at this time when severe overcrowding is being experienced.

Sex offenders, both sentenced and remand, were previously accommodated at 4 locations – Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Training Unit. However, due to limitations at these locations and rising sex offender committals to prison, it was decided to consider other options within the prison estate to accommodate this cohort of prisoner.

The Progression Unit of Mountjoy Prison is self-sufficient in relation to recreation, education, work and training and there is no requirement for prisoners living in this Unit to interact or traverse to the main prison. For this reason, it was decided that the Progression Unit is a suitable location to accommodate sex offenders.

The process of accommodating sex offenders in the Progression Unit commenced during March 2024. On 29 April 2024, there were 36 sex offenders accommodated in the Progression Unit and it is expected that further movements of this cohort of offender to the Progression Unit will take place in the coming months.

Those who are currently accommodated in the Progression Unit, who are not serving their sentences for sex offences will be moved to alternative suitable accommodation within the prison estate.

Finally, I can advise the Deputy that people in custody are encouraged to avail of the services in their prison. The Incentivised Regime Policy is a national policy available in all prisons which strives to provide tangible incentives to participate in structured activities and to reinforce good behaviour, leading to a safer and more secure environment.