In addition the opening of Limerick Female Prison, over 200 spaces were provided across the prison estate in the last year, with an additional 96 spaces provided with the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, an additional 90 cell spaces with the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick. Minister McEntee also intends to prioritise 4 additional short-term capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy that could provide accommodation for a minimum of 620 additional people over the next 5 years. The Minister is engaging with the Minister for Public Expenditure with a view to progressing an agreed schedule of capital builds. 

Budget 2024 provided an increase of €27 million in the Irish Prisons Service budget, including an extra €12.6m in pay to fund public sector pay increases and additional staff to cope with increasing prisoner numbers and services to prisoners. The new staff provided for in this increased allocation will include extra staff to assist with a Rapid Prison Building Unit to drive the Government’s intention to provide of over 620 new prisoner spaces over the next 5 years.

See pages 49, 50, 76 and 79 for controlled drug offences 

P.60 2.1.5 Implement recommendati ons of the independent Drug and Alcohol Report and develop a contemporary Drug and Alcohol Policy - 2.1.5 The review of the Drug and Alcohol policy was delayed due to Covid-19. The completi on of a new Irish Prison Service Drugs Policy has now commenced and is being prioriti sed for delivery in 2023.