Written answers
Tuesday, 13 May 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison Service
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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868. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of whole-time and part-time prison chaplains working in each prison, in tabular form. [23478/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The role of the Prison Chaplain is to provide pastoral care and spiritual support to the entire prison community which includes prisoners, staff, families and community groups as set out in the Prison Rules.
Working within the framework of prison multi-disciplinary teams, Prison Chaplains encourage and support all people in custody to adapt to prison life, prepare for life after release and support their transition from prison back to the community.
The number of whole-time and part-time prison chaplains working in each prison, as of the 6th May 2025, is set out below in tabular form.
| Prison | Whole Time Chaplains (1 FTE) | Part Time Chaplains(0.5 FTE) | Total number of Chaplains (FTE) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARBOUR HILL | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| CASTLEREA PRISON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| CORK PRISON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| LIMERICK PRISON | 1 | 1 (covered by locum) | 1.5 |
| LOUGHAN HOUSE | 0 | 1 | 0.5 |
| MOUNTJOY PRISON | 4 (1 covered by locum) | 0 | 4 |
| MOUNTJOY FEMALE PRISON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| PORTLAOISE PRISON | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| MIDLANDS PRISON | 4 (2 covered by locum) | 0 | 4 |
| SHELTON ABBEY | 0 | 1 | 0.5 |
| CLOVERHILL PRISON | 2 | 1 | 2.5 |
| WHEATFIELD PRISON | 2 | 1 | 2.5 |
| Training Unit | 0 | 1 (covered by locum) | 0.5 |
| Total | 18 | 6 (3 FTE) | 21 |
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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869. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vacant chaplain posts in each prison, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23479/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I have been advised by my officials that the number of vacant Prison Chaplain posts across the Irish Prison Service estate is as follows:
| Prison | Chaplain Vacancies |
|---|---|
| ARBOUR HILL | 0 |
| CASTLEREA PRISON | 0.5 |
| CORK PRISON | 0 |
| LIMERICK PRISON | 0.5 (Covered by Locum) |
| LOUGHAN HOUSE | 0 |
| MOUNTJOY PRISON | 1 (Covered by Locum) |
| MOUNTJOY FEMALE PRISON | 0 |
| PORTLAOISE PRISON | 0 |
| MIDLANDS PRISON | 2 (2 Covered by Locum) |
| SHELTON ABBEY | 0 |
| CLOVERHILL PRISON | 0 |
| WHEATFIELD PRISON | 0 |
| Training Unit | 1 (Covered by Locum) |
| Total | 5 |
Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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870. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is aware of drone-related contraband drops into prisons; the measures he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23542/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware that the flow of contraband is one of the most pressing issues affecting security and safety in our prisons. The Irish Prison Service has committed to continued investment in new technologies and measures to support efforts to keep contraband out of prisons.
An Garda Síochána also supports the Irish Prison Service with ongoing operations in each relevant Garda Division, including Operation Throwover, which is intended to disrupt, interdict and prosecute attempts to introduce contraband into prisons.
In April 2025, the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise a framework for interagency cooperation. The Memorandum of Understanding was developed to enable the two organisations to work in partnership to prioritise cooperation in tackling organised crime, drug dealing and contraband smuggling.
€5m has been allocated in the 2025 Irish Prison Service capital budget for prison security. In 2024, enhanced measures were introduced in Portlaoise Prison as part of measures to counteract contraband and drone activity.
The Irish Prison Service has also commenced works on enhancing yard security in additional prisons with the installation of new netting capable of withstanding fire-bombing. This new netting has already been installed in one prison and is due to be rolled out to other locations in the short term.
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