Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide extra capacity at the old Cork Prison site to offset overcrowding in the new block; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5185/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the former Cork Prison facility was built in the early 1800s and operated as a prison from 1972 to 2016. The prison was deemed no longer appropriate for use as prison accommodation due to the condition of the facilities, the size of the cellular accommodation and the lack of in-cell sanitation.

In late 2023, engineering consultants were engaged by the Irish Prison Service to carry out a detailed assessment of the old Cork Prison facility and to provide a feasibility report on the site with various options for its use.

The draft report was received by the Irish Prison Service in October last year and it is currently being considered by them. The site remains of strategic interest to the Irish Prison Service as a location for possible future development.

The Deputy will be aware that, under the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to providing additional prison capacity of 1,500 spaces across the estate and my Department is engaging with officials in the Irish Prison Service in order to progress this commitment.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of assaults-incidents involving prison officers in Cork Prison and each of the State prisons in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5186/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of direct physical assaults involving prison staff between 2021 and 2024 is as detailed in the table below.

Every assault on a member of staff is treated as serious and appropriate action is taken by the Irish Prison Service, including the reporting of such assaults to An Garda Síochána for the purposes of investigation and criminal prosecution where appropriate. Staff who are subject to an assault or threat in a prison are given the necessary supports through the Employee Assistance Programme.

Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 as amended specifically provides for assaults or threats to peace officers, including prison officers acting in the execution of their duty. Any person who assaults or threatens to assault a peace officer in the execution of their duty is guilty of an offence. The maximum penalty available for assaulting a peace officer, including prison officers, was increased from 7 years to 12 years in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, which came into effect in November 2023. This sends a very clear message that attacks on frontline workers will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly.

In the table below, the figures for staff includes but is not limited to prison officers.