Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline her plans to provide additional prison places throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27486/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that the prison system is safe, humane and has sufficient space to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts, while also focusing on rehabilitation.

The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with my Department to progress plans to bring on stream accommodation for over 1,100 prisoners between 2024 and 2030. The investment required is included in the Irish Prison Service capital plan for 2024-2030 which requires funding of €548 million over the period, and includes investment in security measures, fleet, ICT and other infrastructure.

As part of these plans I have secured capital funding of €159m for the years 2024 to 2026 for the above capital commitments, including securing an increase of €49.5m through the most recent NDP allocations.

Subject to the availability of the necessary resources, short term projects are being progressed which are expected to deliver accommodation for over 150 prisoners this year. The Prison Service are also currently engaged with the Defence Forces to assess the feasibility of bringing the Curragh Military Prison into use.

Medium/long term projects are also being developed that have the potential to deliver additional spaces across the prison estate.

This is inclusive of the programme to deliver accommodation for up to 670 people across Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy with spaces coming on stream from 2026 to 2030. Preparatory work for this programme is already under way.

Other projects are being pursued right across the prison estate, including in the Dochas centre and Wheatfield. Overall, there is potential to bring a significant number of new spaces on stream between 2024 and 2030.