Despite the progress made in 2023, the Irish Prison Service faces significant challenges with a rising prison population. The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody in 2023 increased by 11.1% (+460), with the daily population reaching 4,582, compared to 4,122 in 2022. This increase, coupled with a growing number of prisoners serving longer sentences, continues to place pressure on the prison system.

In 2023, the number of committals to prison increased by 12.7% (+895) compared to the previous year. This, coupled with the increasing length of sentences, has had a considerable impact on prison capacity, highlighting the need for continued investment in infrastructure and resources to maintain safe and effective prison conditions.

To respond to this growing demand, the Irish Prison Service has made progress in expanding its prison estate. In 2023, Limerick Prison B Division was officially opened, providing much-needed additional capacity. This facility not only improves conditions for those in custody but also enhances the working environment for staff. In addition, the opening of a new dedicated female prison at Limerick Prison is another key development aimed at addressing the specific needs of female offenders, further expanding capacity and improving the quality of care provided to female prisoners.

Government has allocated significant capital funding to the Irish Prison Service to enhance infrastructure and increase capacity. In Budget 2025, €525 million has been secured to tackle overcrowding, an 18% increase from the previous year. The 2025 capital budget of €53 million will fund over 150 spaces by the end of 2024, with plans to create over 1,100 new spaces by 2030.

These initiatives represent critical steps towards meeting the challenges posed by overcrowding and ensuring that the Irish Prison Service can continue to offer rehabilitative services in an environment that is safe and conducive to positive outcomes for those in custody.