Locals to be consulted 'in due course' on plan for new Cork Prison 

Community engagement will take place “in due course” on plans to build a new prison in Cork on the site of the former facility, which closed nearly 10 years ago, the justice minister has said.

It was revealed earlier this year that the Government plans to demolish and rebuild the old Cork Prison, which closed in 2016 when the current facility opened.

Public representatives for the area have said locals were given commitments at the time that the old facility would not reopen as a prison.

Cork Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould asked justice minister Jim O’Callaghan in the Dáil if he intends to continue with his plans to reopen the old Cork Prison site, and queried the level of engagement that he has undertaken with the local community on this matter.

Mr O’Callaghan told Mr Gould: “A record capital investment of €527m is being provided to IPS [Irish Prison Service] over the next five years, of which €495m will be invested in building projects to further increase capacity.

“The target is to deliver 1,595 individual prison spaces by 2031, and includes a new prison on the site of the old Cork Prison.

“Planning for the old Cork Prison project remains at a very early stage, and engagement will take place with the local community in due course.”