Prisoner numbers on course to reach 'unimaginable' level

A cell in Mountjoy Prison last January with a mattress on the floor to accommodate a second prisoner because of overcrowding. 'Mountjoy numbers are really worrying,' one source said. Photo: Moya Nolan

Prisoner numbers are on course to reach 6,000 in a matter of months — a level of overcrowding prison sources say is “unimaginable”, as maximum capacity is only 4,700.

Serious concern was expressed when prison numbers breached the 5,000 landmark in June 2024 but the crisis gathered speed in 2025, climbing to 5,800 just before Christmas.

The number of inmates sleeping on mattress on the floor in shared cells has more than trebled during 2025.

Prison bosses have been “sounding alarm bells” over the worsening crisis for several years. Sources point out that Government capital plans to create more spaces — up to 1,500 — won’t begin to come on stream for nearly two years, with much of the expansion taking longer.

“The numbers are building and building all the time,” said a prison source. “We thought 5,000 was a crisis point but we could be heading for 6,000 as early as February. That is unimaginable.” 

The Inspector of Prisons said last November that there was “no doubt” overcrowding pressures contributed to a record 31 prison deaths in 2024.

It comes as newly published 2024 annual reports of prison visiting committees, particularly in Cloverhill, Dóchas and Cork, highlight the impact of “chronic overcrowding” with calls for both more prison spaces and alternative sanctions in the community.

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Last December, the Irish Penal Reform Trust said the Irish Prison Service (IPS) was “fighting a losing battle” against overcrowding and that the system was “at breaking point”.

It strongly criticised the lack of political priority by successive governments and urged a “cross-government” response and investment in community sanctions.

Prison numbers reached a new record on December 17, with 5,810 in custody — 24% above the maximum possible capacity of 4,702.

Compared to 1 January 2025:

• 801 more prisoners were in custody by December 17 — a rise of 16%:
• 171 additional spaces were created in prisons — up 4%;
• 657 inmates were sleeping on mattresses on the floor of cells with other prisoners — an increase of over 200% on January 1 (212);

Overcrowding is highest in Limerick Female (71% above capacity); Dóchas Women’s (49% above capacity); Mountjoy (37%); Portlaoise (36%); and Cork (34%).

Despite efforts in Mountjoy Prison to create spaces, with 47 spaces created in 2025, it still has a chronic overcrowding problem, with 166 inmates on mattresses, compared to 73 at the start of the year.

Prison sources are particularly concerned at the potential for violence and disorder at Mountjoy. "Mountjoy numbers are really worrying," one source said. "You can only imagine what’s going to happen there."

The Cloverhill Prison Visiting Committee expressed serious concern at the high numbers of cells holding three or four prisoners. They agreed with the Inspector of Prisons that inter-prisoner violence was the “inevitable result” of confining four adult men per cell in "degrading" conditions.

A cell in Mountjoy Prison last January. The number of inmates sleeping on mattress on the floor in shared cells has more than trebled during 2025. Photo: Moya Nolan

The latest figures show 128 inmates are in cells holding four-plus prisoners in Cloverhill, with 222 prisoners in cells accommodating three-plus inmates.

The IPS is tasked with trying to create even more spaces in existing facilities in 2026, but one source said: “We’ve done what we can. You could guess we’ll shoe-horn in another 100 or so, but that’s it.” 

On December 18, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan reiterated Government plans to increase prison capacity by 1,500 by 2030, citing "record" capital investment of €527m.

He told the Dáil: “This will be the largest ever building programme in the prison estate. The programme will include a new block in Wheatfield, an additional block extension at Midlands Prison, an extension to Cork Prison, as well as additional spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Portlaoise, Limerick and Dóchas.” 

He said there also plans for a new prison at the Thornton site in north Dublin.