Figures reveal prison overcrowding

THE extent of overcrowding in our prisons is highlighted by figures showing almost 400 inmates are sharing cells with at least three other people.

A further 40 prisoners are in cells of five or more people following an increase of more than 10% in the numbers of people in custody over the past 12 months.

Justice Minister Dermot Ahern admitted the number of prisoners exceeds capacity, despite significant investment by the Government. “It is quite clear that in some of our prisons, we are operating in excess of our bed capacity at this time,” he said in a written response to a Dáil question.

He said there has been “a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years”.

“The situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months during which time the total number of persons in custody has increased by 379.”

More than two-thirds of the men in Limerick Prison are sharing cells with another person while a tenth are in cells of more than three people. In Cork Prison, there are 108 people in cells of three or more people, according to Department of Justice Figures.

Mountjoy has some of the worst overcrowding, with at least 50 prisoners in cells of four or more people while 290 are sharing a cell with one other.

The figures do not include prisoners who are being held in special observation cells or rooms designed to accommodate large groups such as “The Grove” in Castlerea Prison where 55 people are held.

Mr Ahern said the Government plans to create an extra 250 prison places in the coming months. But with the prisoner population growing by 379 last year, this is likely to fall well fall short of requirements.

The opening of the separation unit in Mountjoy will provide an additional 50 short-term places and a new block at Wheatfield Prison will provide about 200 places. At the start of December 2009, there were 4,041 prisoners in custody. A review of prisoner population projections is being finalised by the Irish Prison Service. “The outcomes of this review will inform the Irish Prison Service and my department on matters relevant to the prison estate,” said Mr Ahern.

“The Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the courts into its custody and does not have the option of refusing committals,” he said.