Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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577. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of the progression unit in Mountjoy prison; the number of cells in the unit in total; and the number of spaces which were allocated to non-progression unit prisoners, per month, for 2024. [42999/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the Irish Prison Service must make the best use of all available prison capacity.

Sex offenders, both sentenced and remand, were previously accommodated at 4 locations – Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison and the Training Unit. However, due to capacity 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.

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

On 21 October 2024, there were 201 cells in the Progression Unit. Of these, 121 cells were occupied by people serving sentences for sex offences. Construction work is currently ongoing and it is expected that a further 52 cells will be available in this area of Mountjoy Prison from November 2024.

The process of accommodating sex offenders in the Progression Unit commenced during March 2024. The following table lists the number of sex offenders accommodated at the end of each month:

I am informed that those who are currently accommodated in the Progression Unit, who are not serving their sentences for sex offences, will either remain in the Progression Unit or be moved to alternative suitable accommodation within the prison estate.

The Irish Prison Service is committed to making every effort to ensure that the transfers from the Progression Unit will not negatively impact on anyone in terms of how their sentences are being managed.

I am informed that all transfer decisions will be tailored according to the need and profile of each individual, and in all prisons they will have access to authorised programmes and structured activity. All who are on programmes of temporary release will be facilitated in continuing with such programmes.