Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1392. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the conditions in a prison (details supplied) [60990/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Prison Service must accept all people committed by the Courts Service.

I am acutely aware of the capacity constraints in our prisons, and of the challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result.

A record capital investment of €527 million is being provided to IPS over the next 5 years, of which €495 million will be invested in building projects to further increase capacity. This will provide for the largest investment in the prison estate in the history of the State. The target is to deliver 1,595 individual prison spaces by 2031. This includes a new prison on the site of the old Cork prison, a new block in Wheatfield, an additional block extension at Midlands prison, and additional spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Portlaoise, Limerick and Dóchas.

I have reached out to the Irish Prison Service in respect of this matter and while I cannot comment on individual cases, I have been assured that the Irish Prison Service have looked into it. The Irish Prison Service have confirmed that a full bed kit and mattress was issued, as is their standard practice.