Cabinet approves fast tracked extension of Midlands Prison in Portlaoise

Plans to deliver an additional 250 beds at the Midlands Prison are being fast tracked by the Government. 

The Midlands Prison has been operating above capacity all year leading to concerns for both inmates and staff.  Tonight there are 1,088 prisoners but just 891 beds at the facility which is operating at 122 percent capacity. The situation is worse at Portlaoise Prison which is operating at 132 percent capacity tonight with 297 inmates and only 225 beds. 

In the Midlands Prison 114 prisoners are sleeping on mattresses on the floor and there are 26 prisoners on mattresses in Portlaoise Prison tonight. 

The announcement of much needed additional prison capacity will bring not just extra prison spaces but also additional construction jobs and ultimately extra prison jobs to Portlaoise in the coming years.  

While the announcement is being welcomed, if the total number of prisoners in the system - including those on temporary release and in hospital- was taken into account at the Midlands Prison it would amount to 1,146 prisoners. This is 255 more than the current capacity of 891 and would mean that even with the extra spaces the prison would still be overcrowded.   

Laois TD Sean Fleming confirmed that the updated National Development Plan for the Department of Justice includes an extension to the Midlands Prison.

He said six major projects have been highlighted by the Minister in relation to prisons.  

“The Midlands Prison in Portlaoise is specifically mentioned for an extension. Tendering will start promptly for two separate projects in the Midlands Prison which will provide 250 new prison places.  180 new spaces will be provided on a new additional wing and there will be 70 new spaces created on the circular landings.  Tendering for this work will commence in 2026,” said Dep Fleming. 

According to the Department of Justice’s National Development Plan 2025 review,  “to accelerate delivery, agreement has been secured for six major projects to bypass the first approval gate of the Infrastructure Guidelines. These projects are located in the prisons in Castlerea, Midlands, Dóchas, Wheatfield, Mountjoy and at the old Cork prison site.”

READ ALSO: Midlands Prison extension floated by government

The Department states that “This decision is expected to bring forward delivery timelines on those six projects by 12 to 18 months, while freeing up internal capacity within IPS to advance the wider programme. This acceleration reflects the priority placed by Government on strengthening the prison system’s resilience and providing safe, secure and humane accommodation.”