Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2026
429. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the funding needs identified by the Irish Prison Service to meet current and projected service demands, including prisoner numbers, staffing and infrastructure requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54671/26]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the 2026 gross budget for the Irish Prison Service is €581million, up 11% on 2025. Expenditure to end June 2026 is ahead of profile, due mainly to the growth in prisoner numbers and general inflation, and is subject to ongoing review and monitoring as the year progresses.
I remain committed to investing in the prison estate and its people, and providing for the humane treatment and rehabilitation of all those in custody.
Since 2024, 258 spaces have been constructed across the prison estate, with 126 constructed in 2024,106 constructed in 2025 and 26 constructed so far in 2026. There are plans to build another 39 spaces in 2026 and 70 in 2027.
This is part of an overall extensive prison building capital programme that will deliver over 1,500 new spaces between 2024 and 2031. I have secured the necessary capital funding for this programme through the NDP review in 2025, securing a record €528 million.
It will include a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old, decommissioned Cork Prison, a new block in Wheatfield, and an additional block extension at Midlands prison. This is in addition to spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy and the Dóchas Centre.
This record capital allocation will also allow for work to start to plan and develop a new prison on the Thornton site in North County Dublin. A master plan for the site is planned to be developed in 2026, determining its future use as a combined site for use by the IPS, International Protection Accommodation Services and An Garda Síochána with plans to commence works in 2030.
Last year, a total of 304 Recruit Prison Officers were recruited by the Irish Prison Service. The Pay budget, totalling €383m in 2026, will fund the IPS staffing plans which include a target of 250 prison officers onboarded in 2026. Additionally, the IPS will work with the Department to onboard 26 additional permanent clinical and allied health posts, in response to the challenges of managing prisoners with major mental illness.
I do recognise the pressures on prison staff, however, and my Department is continuing to engage with IPS on additional staffing needs.
