I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for putting down this very important issue I accept that overcrowding is having an impact on the provision of services within the prison estate, and is having an impact on both prisoners and staff. A lot of outstanding work is ongoing within our prisons that probably does not get enough recognition. This morning, I spent two hours at Mountjoy and Dóchas. Three weeks ago, I visited Castlerea Prison for a full afternoon. In fact, I have visited every prison in the country with the exception of the Midlands Prison and Arbour Hill Prison, and I will be visiting them shortly. I take this opportunity to commend the Irish Prison Service and the staff on the outstanding work they do daily. This morning, I had an opportunity to look at the education services provided within Mountjoy and Dóchas. It really is an excellent service, notwithstanding the pressures that overcrowding creates. I am pursuing a dual approach to address the issue of prison overcrowding by increasing prison capacity and pursuing further measures to support the increased use of non-custodial sanctions. I have secured a record capital investment of €528 million for the Irish Prison Service over the next five years, of which €495 million will be invested to deliver one of the most significant capital programmes in the justice sector, with an overall target of delivering over 1,500 spaces by 2031. The building programme, which is committed to 2031, will, as the Deputy has requested, include a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old, decommissioned prison. It is important to state that this is not a new prison; it will be an extension to the current Cork Prison. I had the opportunity, with Deputy O'Sullivan, to visit Cork Prison last year. I was very impressed with the commitment and professionalism of the Prison Service and the prison staff there. I am conscious that we need this extension. There will also be a new block in Wheatfield and an additional block extension at Midlands Prison. This is in addition to spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy and the Dóchas Centre, where an extension to Rowan House is expected to accommodate 50 women prisoners. I visited Dóchas today and saw another extension that had been put in by using office space. It is a fantastic extension and shows the work that has been done in the past year. 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. The extension on the old, decommissioned Cork Prison site will be a large extension of the function of the existing prison and will provide prison spaces for approximately 100 women and 230 men. This will improve efficiency. As the Deputy will be aware, the former Cork Prison ceased to operate as an operational prison in February 2016 but the site provides an opportunity for the Prison Service to extend. 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 as part of the project as matters progress. With regard to Cork Prison, I should also mention the excellent educational work that is provided by the Dillon’s Cross Project, which celebrates its 30th anniversary. The project provides vital educational and social support to the partners and families of prisoners. That is an example of the excellent work that is done for community benefit arising from the prison.

Sentiment score: 0.04

I am hoping, and it is intended, that we will start preparation works early next year in respect of the extension to Cork Prison. 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. It is also important to point out that we have a good record in the Irish Prison Service in delivering extensions or new blocks on prison property very quickly. As I said to the Deputy, I was in Castlerea three weeks ago. Works started on a project there - the Grove - on 1 May 2025 and it is finished now. I turned the sod there three weeks ago for a further extension. The Prison Service is renowned within the sector as being very efficient at getting works completed very promptly. A further example of that is the works I saw this morning in the Dóchas Centre. I also have to point out, however, that I did manage to secure an exemption from the Minister for public expenditure for six projects totalling 960 prison spaces and to move them straight to approval gate 2 pre-tender approval of the infrastructure guidelines, a measure which is expected to speed up delivery of these projects by 12 to 18 months. It also frees up capacity within the Irish Prison Service to progress projects. The proposed extension on Cork Prison is to deliver new prison spaces for men and women. We will try to get that expedited as quickly as possible. I hear what the Deputy has said in terms of a community gain. Obviously there are restrictions in terms of a prison. It is not as though it is a housing estate where you can just put a unit in there but I will think creatively, and I am sure the Irish Prison Service will too, in terms of what can be done for the community. The educational services provided by the Prison Service for families outside of prison is one example of that.

Sentiment score: -0.02