Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 July 2025
2075. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of prisoners currently in Mountjoy Prison; the number of those in Mountjoy Prison from 2019 to 2024, in tabular form; if the current number of inmates constitutes overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42876/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total number of male and female prisoners detained in Mountjoy Prison as at 23 July in each year from 2019 inclusive of this year is outlined in the table below.
Prisoner population statistics are published on a daily basis and are available at: www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-information/2015-daily-prisoner-population/
As at 23 July 2025, Mountjoy Male prison is operating at 126% capacity, Mountjoy Female is operating at 132% capacity and the Training Unit is operating at 100% capacity.
I am acutely aware of capacity restraints in our prisons, and challenges faced by those who work and live in our prisons as a result. The Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts. As such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time. Action is being taken by the Irish Prison Service on a daily basis to manage overcrowding through a combination of inter-prison transfers where capacity is available and structured Temporary Release. Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made.
Since January 2022, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by more than 377 new spaces, with 126 delivered in 2024, 40 delivered to date in 2025 with plans to deliver a further 101 additional spaces by the end of this year.
In line with Programme for Government commitments to deliver 1500 additional prison spaces, €495m has been allocated under the National Development Plan to the Irish Prison Service for 2026-2030. Projects are planned at Castlerea, Cloverhill, Mountjoy, Portlaoise, Wheatfield, Midlands, and Dóchas prisons and at the Old Cork prison site. The capital allocation will also support work to commence on the development of a new prison at Thornton in North County Dublin.
Table 1: Prisoners detained in Mountjoy Prison as at 23 July in each year from 2019 to 2025
|
23 July 2025 |
1,313 |
|
23 July 2024 |
1,175 |
|
24 July 2023 |
1,074 |
|
25 July 2022 |
894 |
|
23 July 2021 |
822 |
|
23 July 2020 |
776 |
|
23 July 2019 |
819 |
