Irish Prison Service admits 'significant challenges' due big numbers in jails in Laois and elsewhere

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) has highlighted problems faced by a higher number of people being jailed in putting 'significant challenges' on its jails in Laois and other parts of Ireland.

That's the commentary contained in a statement announcing the publication of IPS Annual Report for 2023 on December 13, 2024 which also states that a combination of factors is having a 'considerable impact' on prison capacity.

At the end of 2023 the prisons were at 104% capacity while by mid-December 2024 the jails were 112% full. Both jails and Portlaoise were well above capacity as the 2024 came to an end.

The Laois jail complex is the biggest in Ireland. The report says the daily average number of prisoners for the Midlands and Portlaoise Prisons.

The Midlands had an average bed capacity of 875 but the number in custody each day was 914. The situation was more manageable next door in the high security jail. Portlaoise Prison a daily average bed capacity of 229 with the average in custody each day topping out at 224 inmates.

The IPS drew attention to the problems in its latest report where it says investment is coming and some has already made a difference for prisoners and staff.

"Despite the progress made in 2023, the Irish Prison Service faces significant challenges with a rising prison population. The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody in 2023 increased by 11.1% (+460), with the daily population reaching 4,582, compared to 4,122 in 2022.

"This increase, coupled with a growing number of prisoners serving longer sentences, continues to place pressure on the prison system.

"In 2023, the number of committals to prison increased by 12.7% (+895) compared to the previous year. This, coupled with the increasing length of sentences, has had a considerable impact on prison capacity, highlighting the need for continued investment in infrastructure and resources to maintain safe and effective prison conditions.

To respond to this growing demand, the Irish Prison Service says it has made progress in expanding its prison estate. This includes 2023, Limerick Prison B Division was officially opened, providing "much needed additional capacity".

"This facility not only improves conditions for those in custody but also enhances the working environment for staff," said a statement.  MORE BELOW PICTURE.

The IPS adds that Government has allocated significant capital funding to the Service to enhance infrastructure and increase capacity. It highlights that in Budget 2025, €525 million has been secured to tackle overcrowding, an 18% increase from the previous year. It says the 2025 capital budget of €53 million will fund over 150 spaces by the end of 2024, with plans to create over 1,100 new spaces by 2030.

"These initiatives represent critical steps towards meeting the challenges posed by overcrowding and ensuring that the Irish Prison Service can continue to offer rehabilitative services in an environment that is safe and conducive to positive outcomes for those in custody," said the statment.

The statement says the Irish Prison Service also prioritised staff development and wellbeing. With an ongoing commitment to continued professional development and the introduction of various mental health initiatives, the Irish Prison Service continued to foster a culture of support for staff.

The Irish Prison Service, Director General, Caron McCaffrey commented on the progress made last year.

"2023 was a year of significant achievement for the Irish Prison Service, as we continue to uphold our mission to provide a safe, secure, and rehabilitative environment for all those in our care.

“Our focus on improving the welfare of prisoners, coupled with our commitment to enhancing the professional development of our staff, underpins our core values of safety, dignity, and rehabilitation. MORE BELOW TABLE.

“As we look to the future, the introduction of our strategic plans will guide us through the ongoing challenges of rising prisoner numbers and capacity constraints, ensuring that we continue to deliver services that prioritise rehabilitation, community reintegration, and the safety of both staff and prisoners," she said. 

The Service highlighted some key points:

Total Committals in 2023:

• There were 7,938 committals to prison in 2023, reflecting a 12.7% increase (+895)
  compared to 2022 (7,043).
• 6,495 persons were committed to prison in 2023, compared to 5,801 in 2022,
  marking an 11.9% increase (+694).
• 87.9% of those committed were male, while 12.1% were female.

Sentenced Prisoners:

• The total number of sentenced prisoners in 2023 increased by 15.1%, from 4,855 in 2022 to 5,588 in 2023.
• Notably, the number of prisoners sentenced to 3 to <6 monthsincreased by 10.4%, and those receiving sentences of 3 to <5 years grew by 23.1%.

Fine Defaulters:

• There was a notable increase in committals for the non-payment of fines, rising from 205 in 2022 to 552 in 2023.

Prison Population:

• The daily average prison population in 2023 was 4,582, up 11.2% from 4,122 in 2022.
• The daily average number of female offenders in custody increased by 23.7%, from 173 in 2022 to 214 in 2023.

Persons on Remand:

• 3,035 persons were on remand in 2023, highlighting the ongoing challenge of managing remand prisoners in addition to those serving sentences.

Immigration and Extradition:

• There were 127 committals in 2023 related to immigration issues, representing an 8.6% increase from the previous year.
• 27 individuals were committed under European Arrest Warrants.

County and Country of Origin:

• 36.4% of those committed were from Dublin, followed by Cork (8.5%), Limerick (4.8%), and Louth (3.1%).
• 79.3% of those committed were Irish nationals, with 10.8% being EU nationals and 3.4% African nationals.

READ REPORT HERE.