‘No end in sight' for chronic overcrowding 'crisis' at Cork Prison

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has said it is increasingly concerned about chronic overcrowding in Cork Prison, as it breaks records for the number of people in custody.

Yesterday, the prison hit a new record for overcrowding, for the eighth time in July. A total of 389 people were incarcerated there, or 131% of the 296 beds.

Speaking to The Echo, IPRT executive director Saoirse Brady described it as “a crisis situation where nearly one in four people are now expected to sleep on a mattress on the floor of a shared cell”.

“Records continue to be broken almost weekly, if not daily, with no end in sight,” said Ms Brady. “The mooted new prison, which will be years in the making, will not solve this crisis.”

Very challenging

In the recently published Prison Visiting Committee annual report, the Cork committee described 2023 as “very challenging”, yet Ms Brady says “conditions have deteriorated drastically since then”.

“IPRT is concerned that all of the important and progressive work taking place in Cork Prison risks being undermined or restricted due to the overwhelming pressures on the system.”

She added that the trust has consistently said the answer is not to build or create more prison spaces.

“Instead of focusing on prison expansion, the Government should urgently progress legislation to provide the courts with a wider range of community-based sanctions where appropriate, which ultimately lead to better outcomes for the individual and less reoffending. With an annual cost of almost €100,000 per person imprisoned, we urge the Government to consider how that money could be better spent in terms of investing in a person-centred approach to preventing crime and reoffending through the provision of key health and social services.”

Social deprivation 

Ms Brady said there is significant public support for investment in interventions that address the root causes of criminality.

“Recent figures published in the Irish Examiner highlight that the majority of people coming before the courts in Cork regularly come from areas with the highest levels of poverty and social deprivation. 

"Unfortunately, prison is often the place that some people end up when other social services have failed them.”

Ahead of the budget, IPRT is calling for greater investment in communities including increasing the availability of mental health and addiction services, alternative education, better access to adequate housing and the provision of a minimum level of income to support an adequate standard of living for individuals and families.

“We also need to see a more co-ordinated approach to wraparound community supports on release from prison to support individuals on the road to reform,” said Ms Brady.