Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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755. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide an update on work to be carried out in building or refurbishing prisons throughout the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44696/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that Government is committed to the continued investment in the prison estate, to ensure that it is modern, fit-for-purpose and has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison.

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

I am very conscious of the challenges placed on the Prison environment and the Irish Prison Service due to the increased prison population and I have secured significant funding in Budget 2025 to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and provide additional capacity. The capital budget for the IPS will increase by over 70% in 2025 as part of the plan to deliver 1,100 extra spaces between now and 2030, and hire hundreds of extra staff - 150 prison staff will be hired in 2025. This is in addition to approximately 240 prison officers recruited to date in 2024. Funding has also been secured for 130,000 additional staff hours in 2025.

This represents one of the fastest ever expansions of prison capacity in Ireland. Works are in progress to deliver over 150 additional spaces by the year end. As part of these plans, I secured capital funding of €159m for the years 2024 to 2026, including securing an increase of €49.5m through the most recent NDP allocations, which will support the delivery of these plans.

While focused on rehabilitation and reducing offending, the Department is 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.

In July 2023, a Prison Overcrowding Response Group, composed of officials from the Department of Justice and representatives from relevant agencies, was established to consider measures to address capacity issues in the prison estate.

In June 2024, on foot of a report from this Group, I approved a range of actions and work to implement these is ongoing. These actions include developing new, innovative responses to deliver structured temporary release for suitable prisoners, progressing actions to increase the use of community service as a priority, and advancing legislative changes to support the delivery of community-based sanctions more generally.

In addition, and to further consider future prison capacity needs, the I have established a new Working Group which will make recommendations on the numbers and types of prison capacity needed out to 2035. This Group will also make recommendations on the future use of the site at Thornton Hall.

In addition, this year, I have secured a record level of funding to the amount of €525M in Budget 2025 to assist the Irish Prison Service in the delivery of its objectives.