Cork Prison overcrowding at new record high this week

Overcrowding at Cork Prison has risen to yet another record high, despite additional cells being created there through a capital project.

There were 421 people in custody in Cork Prison yesterday, and 417 on Monday, both considerably above the previous record of 410 set at the start of this year.

The prison has capacity for 304 people, which marks a small increase from the 296 beds at the start of this year, after a small capital project to provide accommodation by reconfiguring areas into living accommodation.

Despite the extra eight beds, 117 people currently incarcerated there — 28% — do not have a regular bed.

Overcrowding

The Irish Prison Service has a total of 5,810 people in custody in Ireland, and 4,726 beds across the system, making transfers between prisons to reduce overcrowding.

Cork Prison is at 138% capacity, considerably above the 124% national average, and was the most overcrowded men’s prison in Ireland yesterday.

Last week, The Echo revealed that six inmates in Cork Prison are awaiting transfer to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin, which is also struggling with overcrowding.

Cork Prison has also been used to hold people awaiting deportation from the State.

A total of 18 people, none of whom had a criminal conviction, were held in Cork Prison for up to 52 days while awaiting deportation in the second half of 2025.