Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1651. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the progression unit in Mountjoy Prison has been closed; the reasons for this closure; the impacts this has had on prisoners in Mountjoy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21058/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Irish Prison Service must make the best use of all available prison capacity when managing accommodation across the estate.

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

The process of accommodating sex offenders in the part of Mountjoy Prison which was previously known as the Progression Unit commenced during March 2024. This area of Mountjoy Prison is located on the west side of the prison campus and is self-sufficient in relation to recreation, education, work and training and there is no requirement for prisoners living here to interact or traverse to the main prison. For this reason, it was decided that this is a suitable location to accommodate sex offenders.

As of 25 April 2025, there are 258 cells in Mountjoy Prison (West) accommodating 256 prisoners, with the remaining cells allocated for new committals with convictions of a sexual nature. Of the 256 prisoners accommodated here, 218 are prisoners serving sentences for sex offences.

Those currently accommodated in Mountjoy Prison (West) and not serving their sentences for sex offences will either remain there, 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 of prisoners from Mountjoy Prison (West) will not negatively impact on them in terms of how their sentences are being managed and, in all prisons, prisoners have access to engage in authorised programmes and structured activity.