Prison systems 'likely to reach breaking point' as overcrowding gets worse

Even if the commitment in the 2025 Programme for Government is fully met, the recommended capacity of Irish prisons would be less than current inmate numbers

The highest rates are in Limerick Female (148%), Dochas Women’s Prison (128%), Cork Prison (126%) and Mountjoy Prison (124%). File picture: Dan Linehan

Prison overcrowding has reached such a crisis that current inmate numbers are already greater than the recommended capacity of the prison system after 1,500 more spaces are built by 2030.

An official report said that even if the commitment in the 2025 Programme for Government is fully met, the recommended capacity of Irish prisons in 2030 would be 5,412.