Cork Prison ‘overcrowded’ every day for the last two years

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said the Irish Prison Service (IPS) must accept all people committed by the courts and has no control over those numbers

The €45m, purpose-built prison opened on Rathmore Rd in 2017 with a bed capacity of 296 — but has seen a 25% increase in the figure over the last five years. File Picture: Dan Linehan

Overcrowding at Cork Prison is getting worse, with a daily "average in custody" inmate figure above its design capacity for the last two years.

The €45m, purpose-built prison opened on Rathmore Rd in 2017 with a bed capacity of 296 — but has seen a 25% increase in the figure over the last five years.