Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1171. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the progress of the four short-term capital projects at Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison, the Midlands Prison and Mountjoy Prison; when these are likely to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38331/23]
View answerOfficials within the Department of Justice and the Irish Prisons Service are continuously working together to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage capacity issues in our prisons as they arise.
While focused on rehabilitation and reducing offending, we also need to continue to invest in our prison estate, to ensure that it is modern and fit for purpose and that it has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts.
In recent years, works have been completed to modernise the Mountjoy complex, a new prison was constructed in Cork and additional prisoner accommodation was provided in the Midlands Prison.
Furthermore, the Training Unit in Mountjoy was reopened providing an additional 96 spaces and the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick in late 2022 has provided an additional 90 cell spaces. The new standalone female prison in Limerick is now providing an additional 22 female cell spaces, bringing additional capacity across the estate to in excess of 200 new spaces.
Plans have also been outlined for 4 short-term capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons to deliver a minimum of 620 additional spaces. I am continuing to engage with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to progress an agreed schedule of capital builds, including the delivery of additional Prison spaces.
