Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2025
137. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice whether his Department has benchmarked Irish prison population rates against comparable EU jurisdictions; to provide that data; and to outline any best practice models being considered to curb unsentenced and short sentence committals. [21489/25]
View answerThe Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics (commonly known as SPACE - Statistiques Pénales Annuelles du Conseil de l’Europe) have collected data on imprisonment and penal institutions across Europe since 1983. Data relating to Irish prison population rates as they compare to those of EU member states is publicly available at: www.coe.int/en/web/prison/space.The Council’s most recent annual report for 2023 can be accessed here: wp.unil.ch/space/files/2025/04/space_i_2023_report.pdf.In relation to the Deputy’s question on best practice models being considered, it is important to note that measures taken to address prison overcrowding in one jurisdiction may not be directly transferable to another due to differences in legal systems. However, in response to capacity challenges in Irish prisons, a Prison Overcrowding Response Group was established in July 2023, composed of officials from the Department of Justice and representatives from relevant agencies. The Group considered a range of evidence-informed measures to address capacity issues in the prison estate.
In June 2024, following a report from this Group, a range of actions were agreed and work to implement these is ongoing. These include developing new, innovative responses to deliver structured temporary release for suitable prisoners, actions to increase the use of community service as a priority, and advancing legislative changes, to support the delivery of community-based sanctions more generally.
