The number of persons committed to prison has increased in recent years placing the prison system under pressure. The overcrowding issues have also resulted in an increase in the number of prisoners granted temporary release, from an average of 4.4% in 2007 to an average of over 17% in 2011, with the rates for Mountjoy and Cork being 21% and 35% respectively.

Development of Thornton Hall
The State is currently exposed to significant risks, arising form the substandard conditions in parts of the prison estate. We have, therefore, recommended a number of actions to address the numbers in custody, as well as the shortfall capacity and substandard accommodation, which, in our view, will over time mitigate these risks.

We recommend that a new prison be developed at Thornton Hall, on a smaller scale than that previously envisaged for Phase I, and with a different design from that which was originally planned. A prison system should give practical effect to the principles of normalisation, progression and rehabilitation. In this regard, we have recommended that in addition to the cellular accommodation there should be step-down facilities for prisoners inside the secure perimeter…..