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PRISON PLAN

Hundreds of extra Irish jail spaces planned to tackle overcrowding and prisoners could serve time in community

The current population in lock-ups around the country stands at 4,600, although we only have an official capacity of 4,200

• Published: 18:02, 29 Nov 2023
• Updated: 18:02, 29 Nov 2023

THE GOVERNMENT is planning to create up to 600 additional spaces in Irish jails, the Irish Sun can reveal.

The current population in lock-ups around the country stands at 4,600, although we only have an official capacity of 4,200.

But a few months ago the Prison Officers’ Association told us that there was a need for about 600-800 more spaces in our jails.

Now the Government has committed to creating an extra 600 spaces, while also trying to find a way of having those handed short sentences rehabilitated within the community to free up cells for more serious offenders.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne confirmed the move to the Irish Sun as he launched the Government and the Irish Prison Service’s Strategy until 2027.

He said: “The Government is committed to funding an additional 600 spaces and we also need to look at prisoners who don’t need to be in prison and how they can serve their sentences in the community by utilising the supports that are already there and looking at alternatives pathways when it comes to short terms sentences.

“This will ensure that we have the spaces for those who should be in the prison but also looking at those who can be rehabilitated on the outside that there alternatives there.

“We already have our youth diversion programs for the underage. We have a policy document in the Department of Justice where it’s suggested increasing this to 18-24-year-olds.

“We have to be very careful with that, because some 20-year-olds are very immature, they need a lot of help. Other 20-year-olds are not but we have to look at the types of sentences and the types of characters.

“We have been looking at increasing that beyond 24-year-olds to 25-year-olds but that will be (for) very specific situations and that’s where the highest risk of re-offending is.

“That’s because they can reach a cliff edge; once they turn 18, you’re in and out of prison and when you are released from prison there’s not really the supports there and it’s very hard for them to get those supports.

“I’ve visited a lot of prisons around Ireland and one of the things that really strikes me is the high level of undiagnosed learning difficulties there are.

“These kids are leaving school early, they get involved in crime. They’re in prison for good reason but how can we intervene at a much earlier stage. That’s what we’re trying to look at.”

The Prison Officers’ Association also previously told the Irish Sun that they are massively understaffed and one of the main obstacles to recruitment is the garda vetting process, which can take up to nine months to complete.

VETTING REVIEW

Minister Browne has now confirmed that a full review of the garda vetting is underway.

He said: “The Gardai and the Department are carrying out an entire review of Garda vetting processes and how they work because of the high volume.

“We’re trying to figure out a way that is easier and quicker. People going into prison is high risk so we need people to be vetted properly but we’re trying to figure out a better way that that can be done.”

Despite the fears of the prison officers, the Irish Prison Service has confirmed that it took on 200 more staff this year and is committed to 300 new recruits in 2024.

Director General Caron McCaffrey said: “So despite the delays in garda vetting, we have had a lot of success in this area.”