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Monday 4 December 2023 Dublin: 4°C

# Irish Prisons

Last month
November 2023
More prisoners on temporary release in attempt to tackle Irish Prison Service overcrowding
A report by
Muiris O'Cearbhaill
Last week, there were 126 more people in custody than beds in Irish prisons.
There are currently over 5,200 people registered in the Irish prison system, even though the capacity is just over 4,500 people.
According to one source, the Service is using parole to release inmates under supervision in a bid to tackle overcrowding.
This year
2023
Irish Penal Reform Trust express 'grave concern' as bed capacity reaches 100% across prison estate
Limerick’s female prison has reached highs of 164% capacity.
All time
Irish Prison Service contacts retired staff in a bid to get them temporarily back to work
There are currently nearly 4,200 people in Ireland’s 13 prisons.
More than two-thirds of Irish prisoners on 'restricted' regime kept in cells for 21 hours a day, report finds
A new report by the Irish Penal Reform Trust has raised concerns over Ireland’s increasing prison population.
Electronically tagging 59 prisoners last year cost the State €116,000
A total of €116,000 was spent on the system last year.
Prison officers seized two weapons a day over the last five years
Last year alone, 435 weapons were recovered from inmates.
'It took six officers to restrain him': Psychoactive legal highs are creeping into Irish prisons
There are fears that these drugs
Nine prisoners have been held in solitary confinement for over 12 months
The Irish Prison Service has said the safety of inmates is paramount.
Prisoners using loophole to get out of jail early
Frances Fitzgerald is asking the Supreme Court to clarify the law.
What goes on in Ireland's jails? Prison culture to be put under the microscope
The training and continuous development of prison staff is one aspect that will be reviewed in a major new audit.
Are prisoners being freed temporarily to relieve overcrowding?
Fianna Fáil believes that temporary release is being used to ease overcrowding in some prisons.
Parole review shows drugs and alcohol a factor in majority of crimes
It was also found that child abuse was a factor in a significant number of cases
Shatter defends early prisoner release scheme
Minister says he doesn’t foresee any difficulties managing new programme with current probation staff levels.
Prison officer 'slashed across face and hands with razor blades'
The Prison Officers Association is warning that overcrowding in prisons makes attacks on other prisoners and prison officers more likely.
Every prisoner death to come under independent investigation
The inspector of prisons will investigate the death of every person in the custody of the Irish Prison Service.
39 per cent increase in people sent to prison for not paying fines
In numbers: The Irish Prison Service 2010 review shows an increase of 11.4pc in the numbers sent to prison last year overall, with over a third more people going to prison for not paying court-ordered fines.
The Daily Fix: Monday
In your Fix for this bank holiday Monday: Aer Lingus pilots’ strike averted; good news from the IMF; Turmoil in Syria; Another Cheryl Cole u-turn; Wayne Rooney’s new hair; and do you feature in our mini-marathon gallery?
The Daily Fix: Monday
Catch up on the day’s news, including: Zuma arrives in Libya for mediation; Prison Inspector criticises investigations into prisoner deaths; and what really happens when you don’t pay your TV licence…
Prisons' Inspector criticises procedures for investigating prisoner deaths
Judge Michael Reilly says that investigations into the deaths of prisoners do not meet the standards of international best practice and lack consistency across the country’s 14 prisons.
Ireland failing to meet human rights obligations in prison system: IHRC
The Irish Human Rights Commission has presented a report to the UN Committee Against Torture condemning Ireland’s penal policy and detention conditions.