Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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316. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update in relation to the work of the Prison Overcrowding Response Group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28241/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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. For various reasons, including population growth, an increase in the numbers of judges and the increased size of the Garda workforce, numbers in custody have increased.

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

Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, the Irish Prison Service makes every effort to deal with this through a combination of inter-prison transfers and appropriate use of structured Temporary Release. In that regard, the criteria for participation in the Community Return and Community Support Schemes were updated last year.

The multi-agency Prison Overcrowding Response Group, which was formed in 2023, has considered a number of measures which are now being implemented by the Irish Prison Service.

Both as part of this work and to address capacity issues going forward, the Irish Prison Service continues to engage with my Department to progress plans to bring new spaces for over 1,100 people on stream between 2024 and 2030 with short term projects progressing, that are expected to deliver accommodation for over 170 people this year.

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

I have also established a new Working Group on future prison capacity, which will consider future capacity requirements, including quantities and types of accommodation. It will also make recommendations on the future use of the site at Thornton Hall and the role it can play in providing additional and modern prison accommodation.