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The Journal
3 days ago
- General
- The Journal
Old Cork Prison to be demolished and rebuilt... by 2031
CABINET WILL HEAR plans today to boost the number of prison spaces in Ireland in a bid to tackle significant overcrowding. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will tell Government that prisons in Ireland are currently operating at 115% capacity, with an 11% rise in the prison population in 12 months. There was a new record high set in mid-April of this year, with 5,394 individuals incarcerated in the State. O'Callaghan will inform Cabinet of the risk this overcrowding creates for staff in the Irish Prison Service and for the people in custody, with a rise in assaults, increased pressure on services, threats to staff safety, and insufficient capacity to respond effectively to emergencies. Advertisement As part of plans to boost capacity, O'Callaghan will today inform the Government of plans to speed up the delivery of 960 prison spaces before 2030. Minister O'Callaghan has engaged with the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers to allow for the acceleration of prison projects through an exemption from the initial approval gate of the infrastructure guidelines. This will reduce delivery timelines by up to 18 months in some cases, according to the Department of Justice. As part of the projects to be accelerated, the Old Cork Prison will be demolished and rebuilt by 2031. Currently, the prison is not in operation, but once reopened, it will have the capacity to hold 230 men and 100 women. In addition to the plans to speed up the delivery of additional prison places, the minister has also already received Government approval to expand alternatives to custodial sentences, including expanding the use of Community Service Orders. He also plans to introduce an electronic tagging pilot programme before the end of this year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Justice Minister to speed up plans to build almost 1,000 new Irish prison spaces
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan is set to speed up the introduction of almost 1,000 new prison places – in a bid to ease the chronic overcrowding crisis. More than 5,390 people are currently locked up in Ireland – even though the prison system only has capacity for 4,600 inmates and Mr O'Callaghan is today expected to inform Cabinet of plans to address the issue. He plans to have 960 new spaces in place before 2030. He has already secured agreement with Public Expenditure minster Jack Chambers for the plan for the acceleration of prison projects through an exemption from the initial approval gate of the infrastructure guidelines. Sources say that should reduce delivery timelines by up to 18 months. The Accounting Officer of the Department of Justice will oversee governance and oversight of the projects, to ensure value for money, budget management and sound project management are achieved. The scheme will see 150 new spaces at Castlerea Prison in Roscommon by the end of 2027. The Midlands in Portlaoise, Co Laois will get another 180 spaces by mid 2029. The Dochas female prison in Dublin will have room for another 50 inmates by early 2028. Wheatfield in west Dublin will get 100 new places by the same time frame. And Mountjoy will have 150 new spaces by early 2029. And the old Cork prison will be rebuilt – with 230 male spaces and 100 for women. The Minister will inform Cabinet today that the prison estate is currently operating at 115 per cent over capacity with a new record high of 5,394 individuals in mid-April, representing an 11 per cent rise in 12 months and over 1,100 more people in prison than in January 2023. Minister O'Callaghan has already received Cabinet approval to expand alternatives to custodial sentences including expanding the use of Community Service Orders. The Minister also intends to introduce an electronic tagging pilot programme in the coming months.
