Minister 'hoping and expecting' extension of former Cork prison will be completed early

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said it was a betrayal of the locals who had been promised in 2016 that the old building would not also be used as a prison

The minister said that the €495m building project will include “a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old, decommissioned prison”, providing spaces for approximately 100 women and 230 men. File picture: Larry Cummins

Preparation work to create 330 new prison spaces on the site of the old Cork prison, which closed in 2016, is to start early next year, and the project could be completed a year earlier than planned, the justice minister has said.

Fianna Fáil TDs have insisted that the plans represent an extension of the current prison rather than a second prison, but a Sinn Féin TD says the local people, who are opposed to the project, “aren’t fools”.

Minister Jim O’Callaghan announced the proposals as part of a project to deliver over 1,500 prison spaces across Ireland by 2031. He has described it as “at a very early stage” on multiple occasions since then.

The prison has been consistently overcrowded since 2023, with 415 people in custody on Friday, despite its 304-bed capacity. It reached a record of 430 people incarcerated there earlier this year, and is frequently the most overcrowded men’s prison in Ireland.

Figures provided by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) last week showed that Cork Prison had the highest number of prisoner-on-prisoner attacks of any Irish prison last year, with 227 incidents, up 68% from 135 in 2024.

Fianna Fáil’s Pádraig O’Sullivan received an update on the proposal to increase capacity, by using the old prison site, when he raised “ongoing and worsening overcrowding” in the Dáil.

“It is a serious occupational health and safety issue for all the staff," he said. 

"Overcrowded landings, people sleeping on floors, limited sightlines and cramped shared spaces significantly increase the risk of violence, assault and disorder, while also making routine duties more dangerous and stressful for staff.

“Prison officers in Cork are being asked to maintain order, safety and discipline in conditions that fall well short of what would be regarded as acceptable in any other public service workplace.” 

He asked Mr O’Callaghan to commit to a substantial extension to address this, saying: “I refer to it as an extension because many of our opponents in the Opposition would contend that we are trying to land a second prison on top of people.” 

Mr O’Sullivan added that an extension to the prison should bring a community dividend, suggesting public consultation on options like an amenity space or community building.

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The minister said that the €495m building project will include “a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old, decommissioned prison”, providing spaces for approximately 100 women and 230 men.

“The proposed project for the extension to the existing Cork Prison is still at an early planning stage but preparation works will start early next year,” Mr O'Callaghan said.

“As the project progresses, there will, of course, be community engagement as part of the planning process. I hope that consideration will also be given to community benefit.” 

Mr O’Sullivan said he was hoping the project could be delivered faster, and the minister said: “I am hoping and expecting that it will be completed in advance of 2031 and that it will be finished in the latter part of this decade.” 

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said that the plans represented a betrayal of the locals who had been promised in 2016 that the old building would not also be used as a prison.

“It is beyond disappointing that Fianna Fáil are so determined to build a second prison in the Glen without doing any community consultation first."