‘Potentially explosive situation' alert amid new jail overcrowding fears as number of inmates sleeping on floor doubles
THE overcrowding crisis in Irish prisons is worse than ever with 358 inmates forced to sleep on the floor on one night this week.
The
Its president Tony Power insists that it creates a
The number of people in custody is
The figure of 358 sleeping on floors across the Irish prison system has more than doubled in the past two years.
Speaking at the POA's Annual Conference in Galway, Mr Power said: "Overcrowding continues to be a major concern for prison officers and is causing a
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"Our members should not be expected to work in these overcrowded prisons and the people in custody should not be expected to live in these overcrowded conditions.
"Prison is meant to be about rehabilitation, but that rehabilitation is impossible when
He added: "This overcrowding situation is a disgrace and is potentially creating an explosive situation within our prisons."
The POA recently met with the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan and his officials to discuss the topic and other matters.
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But the association says "nothing" will address the situation unless the Department find the budget to create more prison spaces.
He also took aim at previous justice ministers who have "failed" prison officers.
'HOLLOW PROMISES'
Mr Power said: "That's why we find ourselves in this position today.
"In 2023 on this very stage the then acting Minister for Justice and now Tanaiste Simon Harris stated, 'it is not good enough for the 167 people sleeping on a mattress on the floor or for their cell mates who have little or no room to move about'.
"There is over double that number now sleeping on floors in our prisons.
"Previous ministers made hollow promises of 650 extra spaces with new builds promised for Cloverhill, Midlands and Castlerea and a four-story block on the grounds of the old Separation Unit in Mountjoy. Two years on and not a sod has been turned on any of these projects."
The POA believes that the safe working capacity of the present-day prison estate is 4,300 - over 1,000 less than what is currently in custody.
He warned: "I don't want to sound alarmist, but if we don't find an immediate solution to this problem, we will have a tragic event or some form of crisis on all our hands."
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POA president Tony Power said 'overcrowding continues to be a major concern'
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