Cabinet must release funding to tackle prison overcrowding within '12 to 18 months', minister warns

There were 5,344 prisoners in custody on Wednesday, in spaces for 4,666 people — meaning 678 people had to be crammed into cells. Picture: Dan Linehan/Stock

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has said the overcrowding crisis is “his responsibility” to address, and that the Government must tackle the issue.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Prison Officers’ Association, Mr O’Callaghan said extra spaces are “urgently needed” and that his Cabinet colleagues had to release funding to tackle the problem within the “next 12 to 18 months”.