Inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor due to overcrowding at Limerick Prison
FOURTEEN women have to sleep on mattresses on the floor in Limerick Prison because of sewerage problems with the prison’s new €60 million development.
In Limerick Female Prison, the capacity has reached 164%, the highest for any prison in the country.
Official figures released by the Irish Prison Service show the combined capacity across all prisons in Ireland has reached 100%.
As inmate numbers continue to rise, it has been confirmed that some prisoners in Limerick are now sharing cells and sleeping on mattresses on the floor because of issues in the new B-wing.
An IPS spokesman stated that 14 women in Limerick Prison are sleeping on mattresses on the floor because of the overcrowding.
After building work was completed last year in Limerick Prison, new cells were supposed to open. However, because of issues with the sewerage system and complaints about odours, the new development has not been used yet.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has voiced concerns over the situation, and has been calling on the Minister for Justice to adequately resource the proposed actions in the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform, which would, “reduce the number of people sent to prison and support a move away from responses to offending that cause unnecessary further harm to people and their families.”
Acting Executive Director, Ms Joyce, commented: “This is a watershed moment for Irish prisons. We now have a prison population that is growing at a worrying rate and without strong action from Government the problems caused by this rapid rate of increase will continue.”
Speaking of prison capacity, The Irish Prison Service has stated it must accept all prisoners who are committed by the Courts, and that therefore, it has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time.
The spokesperson added: “The Government has provided significant capital funding to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure. The commissioning of a new male and female prison accommodation in Limerick Prison will provide an additional 90 male spaces and 22 additional female cell spaces. This new male accommodation is now partially open, and the female accommodation is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2023.”