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Funding secured to provide space for up to 670 additional prisoners

As of yesterday, there were more than 5,600 people registered in the Irish prison system, even though the system only has capacity for just over 4,500 people.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS secured funding to provide space for up to 670 additional prisoners.

Under the National Development Plan for justice projects, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has secured an additional capital funding of €93 million. 

The funding was approved by Cabinet last week and will be used across the justice sector.

Of the €93 million funding allocation, €49.5 million is being allocated to the Irish Prison Service between this year and 2026 to further increase prison capacity and address current capacity constraints in the prison estate.

Preparatory work is to commence this year on four projects in Cloverhill, Castlerea, Midlands and Mountjoy prisons, with construction expected to start on a phased basis between 2025 and 2027.

When completed, space for up to 670 prisoners will be created.

The Department of Justice said the Irish Prison Service is also currently advancing a number of short term projects which separately have the potential to provide an additional 95 spaces in 2024.

The Journal reported last November of claims that the Irish Prison Service is using temporary release services to relieve continued overcrowding in the prison system.

As of yesterday, there were more than 5,600 people registered in the Irish prison system, even though the system only has capacity for just over 4,500 people.

The figure accounts for all people currently registered in the Irish prison system, including prisoners in custody, on any form of temporary release, those receiving treatment in hospital or those in the Central Mental Hospital.

One source told The Journal in November that the Irish Prison Service is using these services to release inmates back into communities under supervision in a bid to tackle overcrowding.

This is achieved through a system known as ‘Temporary Release’, which is provided to prisoners who are released from custody for a specific time and reason based on their behaviour while in in custody.

In a statement today, Minister McEntee said today’s announcement of additional funding ensure there is a “plan to grow the size of our prison estate for the first time in a decade”.

“We will ensure that we have a prison estate big enough to hold those who cause damage and misery in our communities,” McEntee said.

“It is important that we continue to review and plan for additional capacity, which may be needed given increasing populations, and the introduction of some higher maximum prison sentences, including for assault causing harm and conspiracy to murder, which will have impacts on the amount of time people spend in prison,” she said. 

With reporting by Muiris O’Cearbhaill

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    Mute Stephen Pluck
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    Oct 28th 2011, 7:51 PM

    Where’s NATO now?!

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Oct 28th 2011, 8:16 PM

    Obviously no gains for America in Syria!! Greatest warmongers and hypocrites on the planet!!!

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    Mute Mensah Mensah
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    Oct 28th 2011, 8:38 PM

    Nato,UK,UN,America are scared of the big cats…they only go after the small fish….shame on u….

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    Mute Joe McDermott
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    Oct 28th 2011, 7:58 PM

    Team America! Fuck Yeah!

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    Mute D B cooper
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    Oct 28th 2011, 8:32 PM

    If NATO are willing to stand by and do nothing the least they could do is arm the people all they want is a democratic country

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    Mute RDX862
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    Oct 28th 2011, 10:07 PM

    March 17, 2011
    Libya No-Fly Zone Approved By U.N. Security Council

    October 4, 2011
    U.N. Resolution on Syria Blocked by Russia and China

    The Assad regime has purchased a large amount of weapons from Russia and they also can use Syria to get by the sanctions on Iran by using Syria as a go between. The Russians also have a naval base in Syria that they have been upgrading for a few years since it had become disused when the Soviet Union collapsed. They plan on using it to have a large permanent presence in the Mediterranean.

    May 12, 2011
    Russia is attempting to suppress a United Nations report that says Iran has been breaking a U.N. arms embargo by shipping weapons to Syria

    Aug 18, 2011
    Russia Is Still Selling Weapons To Syria

    02 September, 2011
    Russia hopes new Libyan authorities will honor Gaddafi-era contracts

    08 September, 2011
    $4 bln down the drain: Libyan rebels won’t buy Russian arms

    September 10, 2011
    Syrian Protesters Burn the Russian Flag

    September 12, 2011
    Syria may buy more Russian air defense systems

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    Mute Mata Mata
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    Oct 29th 2011, 7:31 AM

    Turkey is going solo and supplying arms and intelligence , well done Turkey thank you !

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    Mute Raymond Power
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    Oct 29th 2011, 8:28 AM

    syria has no oil then?

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    Mute JSLeFanu
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    Oct 29th 2011, 5:50 PM

    Neither did Bosnia, your point?

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    Mute Strongbow62
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    Oct 29th 2011, 10:06 AM

    Assads destiny is to end up like Gaddafi. Sooner or later he’ ll get a bullet in the head, maybe from his own side.

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    Mute Mata Mata
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    Oct 29th 2011, 9:52 AM

    Bashar and all who surround you will die in rat holes where you belong !

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