Several prisons across Ireland have begun the year overcrowded, with campaigners arguing it is a breach of health and hygiene. 

Prisons across Ireland are at 104% capacity overall, with only four at or below full capacity, a 7% increase from last year. 

Cork Prison is the most overcrowded in the State as of today, with 337 people incarcerated – 76 more than last year. 

This figure is also beyond the operational capacity of the prison, which is 296, according to the Irish Prison Service – putting it at 114% capacity. 

This is closely followed by the Limerick women’s prison which is currently at 113% capacity with 314 people.

In Mountjoy there were 786 male prisoners as of today, an increase of 46 people. Mountjoy’s current operational capacity is 755. 

The women’s cells are currently at 110% capacity with 160 people in custody. 

'Sleeping on mattresses on the floor'

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) said a large number of those incarcerated serve 12 months or less. 

Executive Director Saoirse Brady said overcrowding means unhygienic conditions. 

“We're hearing about people having to share a cell designed for one person, so they might be in bunk beds,” she said. 

“We're hearing about people sleeping in mattresses on the floor. 

“When you think about a prison cell, that mattress might be wedged next to a toilet, so it’s really unhygienic.” 

Ms Brady said the conditions in prisons has been going “backwards” since the end of the pandemic. 

“We were getting to a – particularly over COVID – we were seeing numbers dropping,” she said. 

“That was because the courts were closed, but now we’re seeing an increase in numbers way above pre-pandemic levels. 

“That’s just not acceptable, particularly when Government policy is in place to try and reduce the amount of people in prison overall.” 

Less prison sentences

The IPRT has called for increased use of “community-based alternatives”, such as community service hours. 

Ms Brady noted that in 2022, community service orders resulted in 174,287 hours of community service work “in lieu of 566 years in prison resulting in €2m worth of work for benefit of communities nationwide”. 

The IPS told Newstalk it is working with the Department of Justice to “ensure a safe working environment for staff and the safety and security of prisoners in custody”. 

“The IPS are taking a number of short- and medium-term steps to address the issue of increasing prison numbers,” it said.  

“Government has provided significant capital funding to the IPS in order to enhance existing prison infrastructure.” 

It noted the recent addition of 90 male spaces and 22 female spaces in Limerick Prison. 

The Government also approved the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024