Sinéad Gibney
Question:833. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners currently slopping out in Irish prisons, by prison, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3281/25]
View answerWednesday, 5 February 2025
Questions (833)
Written answers
The provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care for people in prison in Ireland is a priority for the Irish Prison Service and for me, as Minister for Justice.
The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has all but eliminated the practice referred to as ‘slopping out’ in prisons through a major refurbishment programme and the replacement of prison facilities across the estate.
This included the refurbishment of Mountjoy Prison, which included installation of in-cell sanitation to all cells, completed in 2014, the replacement of Cork Prison with a new and modern facility in 2016, and most recently, the opening of new accommodation at Limerick Prison in 2023.
As a result of these infrastructure developments across the prison estate, there are only 5 prisoners, accommodated in Portlaoise Prison who currently do not have access to toilet facilities within their cell. Due to the historical nature and condition of the E Block, the reducing number of prisoners accommodated there, and the likely scale of costs involved, it has been determined that it is not feasible to provide in-cell sanitation in that location.