Gillian Toole (Meath East, Independent)
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1051. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the Thornton Hall prison site in north County Dublin, Fingal, in light of recent announcements on the increase in prison spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30428/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2025 commits to a range of measures to explore alternatives to prison, enhance prison infrastructure and increase prison capacity. This includes the construction of a new prison at Thornton Hall.

The findings of the Working Group established in the second half of 2024 to further consider future prison capacity needs out to 2035 will support and inform future developments around Thornton Hall. Long range projections prepared by the group indicate that Ireland’s prison population out to 2035 will continue to grow, with a minimum prison population forecast of 5,600 and, in all likelihood see growth to or beyond 6,450 prisoners.

The report makes a number of recommendations in relation to developments needed within the existing prison estate, and also to future development on the old Cork prison site and at Thornton Hall.

It also recommends that opportunities to accelerate existing plans for large-scale capital projects should be urgently explored. The Thornton Hall project is subject to the necessary funding being secured through the Government’s review of the National Development Plan.