Prisons in the Republic of Ireland

Criminal detention facilities in Ireland From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prisons in Ireland are one of the main forms of punishment, rehabilitation, or both for the commission of an indictable offense and other offenses.

Authority

In 1925, shortly after the establishment of the Irish Free State, Minister for Justice, Kevin O'Higgins, introduced legislation repealing the existing ability of grand juries to appoint visiting committees to prisons within the state. Instead, the authority to appoint the members of prison visiting committees was vested solely in the person of the Minister.^[1]^[2] Similarly, the management of the prison system within the Irish Free State passed to the control of the minister with the dissolution by statutory instrument of the General Prisons Board for Ireland (the G.P.B.) in 1928.^[3] The G.P.B. had been an all-Ireland body. Thus, by this date, both the responsibility and control over the management and oversight of the prison service within the Irish Free State was held within the Minister's department.^[4]

This situation remained unchanged until 1999 when the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, John O'Donoghue, established the Irish Prison Service to which was delegated the task of managing the day-to-day running of the prison system.^[5] Simultaneously in 1999, a Prisons Authority Interim Board was established and its members were appointed by the Minister in 2000. The purpose of this board was to advise the director general and directors of the Irish Prison Service on the management of the penal system.^[6] In 2002 the retired High Court Judge, Dermot Kinlen, was appointed the state's first Inspector of Irish Prisons.^[7] However, none of these new bodies was ever established on a statutory basis despite indications to the contrary. Indeed, as recently as January 2011, Dermot Ahern informed the Dáil (Parliament) that:

I have no immediate plans to introduce legislation to place the Irish Prison Service or the Prisons Authority Interim Board on a statutory basis^[8]

In 2025, the Irish Prison Service had an annual budget of €525 million.^[9] As of year ending 2023 it had a staff of 3,547 people.^[10]

EuroPris and the European Union

Ireland is a member of the European Union and the EuroPris system.^[11] Being a member of this system requires abolition of the death penalty and the provision of humane prison conditions.^[12] The goal of the Europris system is to ensure cooperation between European prison systems which aims to improve the lives of prisoner and their families, growing public safety and security, and reducing the re-offending rate.

Prison services

The Irish prison system attempts to educate inmates and give them opportunities to avoid recidivism.^[13] The system provides multiple forms of education including vocational, life skills, basic education, healthy living, and technology education. The system also provides opioid addiction treatment facilities that covers at least 80% of the Irish prison population. They also ready the inmates for reintegration and resettlement back into society and provide mental health and health services for the inmates.^[14]

Prison population rate

As of May 2025, the prison population in Ireland was 6,129 which is 115% of designed capacity which is 4,666. The service aims to open another 1500 beds.^[15] As of May 2025 the latest available official statistics are at year ending 2023. In January 2023, the incarceration rate was approximately 89 per 100,000 inhabitants.^[16]

The proportions in the prison population are: 15.8% are pre-trial and remand prisoners, 4.3% are females, and 12.3% of the prisoners are foreign.^[17]

Prisons and prison population

There are 13 prisons ^[18] in Ireland with a total bed capacity of 4,666 as of 16 May 2025 however, most of these prisons operate at or above capacity with the average capacity of a prison being 115%.^[9]

Sentencing

In 2023 there were 6,495 committals to prisons in Ireland, which is an increase of 11.9% on 2022 when the equivalent figure was 5,801 committals.^[19]

Cost of placement

The average cost to incarcerate a person in a prison in 2023 was €88,523 per annum. This was an increase of 5.3% on the 2022 cost which was €84,067.^[10]

Active prisons

More information Prison, Location ...

Prisons in Ireland: Operational Capacity and Daily Average Number of Prisoners in Custody 2023^[20]
Prison	Location	Year opened	Type	Security	Sentenced	Remand	Age Range	Special Features	Servicing Area of	Male Capacity	Female Capacity	Daily Average Number (Male)	Daily Average Number (Female)
Mountjoy Prison	Dublin 7	1850	Closed	Medium	Y	Y	18+	None	Dublin City	755	0	784	0
Dóchas Centre	Dublin 7	1999	Closed	Medium	Y	Y	18+	None	National (except Munster)	0	146	0	165
Training Unit	Dublin 7	1974	Semi-Open	Low	Y	Y	18+	Facility for older male inmates	National	96	0	95	0
Cork Prison^[21]	Cork City	2016	Closed	Medium	Y	N	18+	None	Cork, Kerry, Waterford	296	0	306	0
Limerick Prison^[22]	Mulgrave Street, Limerick	1822	Closed	Medium	Y	Y	18+	None	Males: Clare, Limerick, Tipperary. Females: Munster	286	56	293	49
Castlerea Prison^[23]	Castlerea, County Roscommon	1996	Closed	Medium	Y	Y	18+	None	Connacht, Cavan, Donegal, Longford	340	0	369	0
Cloverhill Prison^[24]	Cloverhill, Dublin 22	1999	Closed	Medium	N	Y	18+	None	Leinster (primarily)	433	0	460	0
Wheatfield Prison^[25]	Cloverhill, Dublin 22	1989	Closed	Medium	Y	N	18+	None	Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Wexford, Wicklow	610	0	571	0
Portlaoise Prison^[26]	Portlaoise, County Laois	1902	Closed	High	Y	N	18+	For those sentenced in the Special Criminal Court; subversive crime	National	229	0	224	0
Arbour Hill Prison^[27]	Dublin 7	1975	Closed	Medium	Y	N	17+	Sexual offenders; long term sentences	National	137	0	134	0
Midlands Prison^[28]	Portlaoise, County Laois	2000	Closed	Medium	Y	Y	17+	None	Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Monaghan, Wexford, Wicklow	874	0	914	0
Loughan House^[29]	County Cavan	1973	Open	Low	Y	N	18+	None	National	140	0	120	0
Shelton Abbey^[30]	Arklow, County Wicklow	1973	Open	Low	Y	N	19+	None	National	115	0	98	0

One reason Ireland has a successful recidivism programme is the educational opportunities they provide while prisoners are serving a sentence. During a sentence, an inmate has access to a wide variety of classes, as well as personal tutoring services to help them succeed in their classes. These classes include home economics, art, pottery, photography, drama and music, crafts, technology, horticulture, and lastly science programs.^[31] There are also instructional technology courses available at certain facilities. If inmates do decide to attend classes, this allows them to be excused from some of the work duties that are required by the prison each day. All of this is provided through the Department of Justice and the Irish Vocational Education Committee. To decide what classes each inmate should enroll in, each inmate goes through an interviewing process. This helps the inmates because it gives them a personalized schedule that they would not be able to make on their own. Participating inmates are interviewed on a weekly basis to see if they are struggling in any classes. This allows the program to be more successful because if an inmate is having any trouble in their classes it is to be assessed right away so they can get the help they need to get back on track (Literacy Work in Prison).^[32]

Future Prisons

As per recent investment in revamping Irish Prison capacity and capacities, a new prison has been planned to be constructed in Thornton Hall. The prison is to cost €400 Million and is rumored to begin construction sometime in 2026-2027. As of now there is no set completion date as funds have not been fully allocated.

The prison will have a capacity of 1,400 Prisoners (can be increased to 2000) according to HKR Architects.

Minors

Formerly, children in Ireland (North and South) were detained in Industrial Schools or Reformatory Schools. Currently, within the Republic of Ireland, they are detained in institutions called Children Detention Schools. These detention schools are managed by the Irish Youth Justice Service. There are four facilities for the detention of "children", defined as boys under the age of 17 and girls under the age of 18:

Finglas Child and Adolescent Centre Children Detention School
Oberstown Children Detention Campus (separate boys' and girls' schools)

Defunct prisons

Spike Island
Clonmel Borstal
Geneva Barracks
Kilmainham Gaol
Newgate Prison, Dublin
Richmond General Penitentiary
Roscommon Jail (Now Stone Court Shopping Centre)
Sligo Gaol
The Black Dog, Dublin
Cork City Gaol
Cork County Gaol
Wicklow Gaol

Statutory basis of the penal system in Ireland

Children Act (2001)
Criminal Justice Act (1960)
Criminal Justice Act (1997)
Criminal Justice Act (2000)
Criminal Law Act (1997)
Detention of Offenders (Castlerea) Regulations (1998)
Detention of Offenders (Loughan House) Regulations (1973)
Detention of Offenders (Shanganagh Castle) Regulations (1970)
Detention of Offenders (Shelton Abbey) Regulations (1976)
Detention of Offenders (The Curragh) Regulations (1996)
Detention of Offenders (Training Unit) Regulations (1975)
ECHR Bill (2001)
General Provisions Board (1928)
Human Rights Commission Act (2000)
Illegal Immigrants Trafficking Act (2000)
Immigration Act (1999)
Immigration Act (2003)
Immigration Act (2004)
Medical Practitioners Act (1927)
Non-Fatal Offences Act (1997)
Ombudsman Act (1980)
Ombudsman for Children Act (2002)
Organisation of Working Time Regulations (1998)
Prison Act (1933)
Prison Act (1956)
Prison Act (1970)
Prison (Disciplinary Code for Officers) Rules (1996)
Prisoners Temporary Release Rules (1960)
Prisons Visiting Commitiees Act (1925
Prisons Visiting Committees Order (1925)
Refugee Act (1996)
Rules for the Government of Prisons (1947)
Rules for the Government of Prisons (1955)
Rules for the Government of Prisons (1976)
Rules for the Government of Prisons (1983)
Rules for the Government of Prisons (1987)
Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act (1989)
Social Welfare (Social Assistance Regulations) (1993)

Notes

[1]
Kilcommins, Shane; O'Donnell, Ian; O'Sullivan, Eoin; Vaughan, Barry (2004). Crime, punishment and the search for order in Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. pp. 41–2. ISBN 1-904541-13-5.
[2]
Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act, 1925.
[3]
S.I. No. 79/1928 — General Prisons Board (Transfer of Functions) Order, 1928.
[4]
Kilcommins, Shane; O'Donnell, Ian; O'Sullivan, Eoin; Vaughan, Barry (2004). Crime, punishment and the search for order in Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. p. 43. ISBN 1-904541-13-5.
[5]
Kilcommins, Shane; O'Donnell, Ian; O'Sullivan, Eoin; Vaughan, Barry (2004). Crime, punishment and the search for order in Ireland. Dublin: Institute of Public Administration. p. 240. ISBN 1-904541-13-5.
[6]
Irish Prison Service. "Functions of Interim Prison Board". Archived from the original on 26 April 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
[7]
Times Online (6 August 2007). "Obit.: Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
[8]
House of the Oireachtas. "Written Answers – Irish Prison Service, Wednesday 12 January 2011". Retrieved 22 February 2011.
[9]
"Daily Prisoner Population". Irish Prison Service. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
[10]
Irish Prison Service (2023). Annual Report - 2023 (PDF). Dublin. pp. 8–9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[11]
"EuroPris". EuroPris. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
[12]
"Strategy – EuroPris: Promoting Professional Prison Practice". Retrieved 16 May 2025.
[13]
"Care and Rehabilitation". Irish Prison Service. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
[14]
"Irish Prison Service". www.irishprisons.ie. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
[15]
Prisoner Population on Friday 16th May 2025 (PDF). 16 May 2025.
[16]
Irish Penal Reform Trust. "Facts and Figures". Retrieved 16 May 2025.
[17]
Irish Prisons - Snapshot by Nationality (PDF). 2024.
[18]
"Irish Prison Service - About Us". Irish Prison Service. Archived from the original on 10 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
[19]
Irish Prisons - Snapshot - Committals (PDF). 2024.
[20]
Irish Prison Service (2020). Annual Report (PDF). Dublin. pp. 24–28.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[21]
In 1806 a military barracks with a prison attached was opened by the British government on Rathmore Road, Cork City. Following independence in 1922 the control of this institution was taken over by the Irish Government and renamed Collins Barracks. It remained in the possession of the Irish Army until 1972 when it was handed over to the Department of Justice who returned the facility to use as a civil prison. It opened as a committal prison after considerable refurbishment in 1983. Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2005). Cork Prison Inspection: 13th – 17th September 2004. Dublin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[22]
Although built between 1815 and 1821 much of this facility has undergone extensive renovation of late. Many but not all of the old wings have been knocked down and replaced with new units providing for modern sanitation facilities. The original female section of the prison is generally not used except in cases of severe overcrowding, as a new modern female unit has been constructed. Irish Prisons Inspectorae (2007). Limerick Prison Inspection: 19th – 23rd June 2006 (PDF). Dublin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[23]
Castlerea opened as a district mental hospital from 1939. Operating for short periods as a tuberculosis sanitorium, it remained open as a hospital until 1994 during which time it was renamed as St. Patrick's Hospital. Following its closure as hospital a small number of prisoners were accepted into the facility in 1996 but work was not completed on the construction of the main cell blocks until 1998. Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2005). Castlerea Prison Inspection: 2nd – 9th June 2004 (PDF). Dublin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[24]
This is a purpose built "remand" prison and holds most of the male remand prisoners in the state. It is adjacent to the Wheatfield prison and shares many services with this institution. Inspectorate of Irish Prisons (2006). Cloverhill Prison Inspection: 22nd – 29th November 2005 (PDF). Dublin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[25]
Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2007). Wheatfield Prison Inspection: 10th – 12th and 19th – 21st April 2nd, 3rd, & 16th May 2006 (PDF). Dublin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[26]
The "E" block of Portlaoise Prison was built in 1902 on the site of an old county jail which had originally been built in 1830. The prison site consisted of 36 acres, 30 acres of which was farmland. Due to security concerns the farm ceased to function in the 1970s and currently hosts the Midlands Prison. From 1923 Portlaoise Prison was designated as convict prison (i.e. those sentenced to penal servitude understood as those serving sentences ranging from three years to life). In November 1972 the prison population then resident in the institution were dispersed to other institutions, principally Mountjoy Prison. In 1973 it ceased to be a convict prison and was instead designated as a high security prison to house subversive prisoners. In tandem with this change in status, army and police personnel were stationed in the grounds of the prison to augment the prison staff.Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2003). Portlaoise Prison Inspection: 9th, 10th, 11th December 2002 (PDF). Dublin. p. 2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2007). Portlaoise Prison Inspection: 6th – 10th November 2006 (PDF). Dublin. p. 6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[27]
the original Arbour Hill Hospital and Prison was built in 1797 at the site of the modern day St. Bricin's Military Hospital. The hospital was subsequently modified and renamed the King George V Hospital. The prison was moved to its current location in Arbour Hill and built between 1845–48. Following independence control of the institution was transferred to the Department of Defence. It served as a military prison until 1973 when the institution was passed over to the control of the Department of Justice and in 1975 it was reopened as a civilian prison. The majority of the prisoners in this institution have been convicted of sexual offences. Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2004). Report on Visit to Arbour Hill Prison Commencing the 3rd November 2003 to the 7th November 2003 (PDF). Dublin. p. 6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[28]
The Midlands Prison was built adjacent to Portlaoise Prison with which it shares some facilities. It was built as a public-private partnership for a cost of £46 million Irish punts. It is not a committal prison as all prisoners are transferred here from other prisons. Although there are a tiny number of prisoners in the population who are awaiting trial the vast majority of prisoners have been sentenced. Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2005). Midlands Prison Inspection: 27th – 1st July 2005 (PDF). Dublin. pp. 2–3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[29]
Loughan House was built in 1953 as a noviciate for the White Friar Fathers Missionary Congregation. In 1972 the 47-acre site was sold to the Department of Justice and it opened as a penal institute for young male offenders aged between sixteen and twenty-three years old in 1973. Dating from 1978 it was used as a juvenile detention centre for male offenders aged between twelve and sixteen years old. From 1983 it has served as an open centre for male prisoners aged over eighteen years old.Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2008). Report on an Inspection of Loughan House Open Centre 2008 (PDF). Dublin. p. 4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[30]
This institution, located near Arklow in County Wicklow, was previously the home of Lord and Lady Wicklow before it was acquired by the state in the early 1950s. In 1972 it was purchased by the Department of Justice and since 1973 it has continuously operated as an open detention centre. Irish Prisons Inspectorate (2006). Shelton Abbey Detention Centre Inspection: 10th Oct. – 15 Oct. – 2005 (PDF). Dublin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
[31]
"Work and Vocational Training". Irish Prison Service. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
[32]
Kett, Mary (June 2001). "Literacy Work in Wheatfield Prison, Dublin, Ireland". JCE. 52: 63–67.