Modular units planned for Castlerea Prison
Funding has been provided for increased capacity at Castlerea Prison.
Funding has been provided for increased capacity at Castlerea Prison. There are also plans for the use of modular units and the refurbishment of existing buildings at the prison to boost space.
Earlier this month, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced additional capital funding of €93m under the National Development Plan for Justice projects in 2024-2026.
The funding will be used across the Justice sector together with a reallocation of existing funding to address a number of key priorities, including further increasing prison capacity, opening new Garda stations and delivering key technology projects for An Garda Síochána.
Of the €93m funding allocation, €49.5m is being allocated to the Irish Prison Service in 2024-2026 to further increase prison capacity and address current capacity constraints in prisons. Preparatory work will commence this year on four key projects in Cloverhill, Castlerea, Midlands and Mountjoy prisons as part of an accelerated capital construction programme with construction expected to start on a phased basis in 2025 – 2027.
When completed, space for up to 670 prisoners will be created. The Irish Prison Service is also currently advancing a number of short term projects which separately have the potential to provide an additional 95 spaces in 2024.
“Preparatory work will commence this year on these four key projects as part of an accelerated capital construction programme,” a spokesperson for the department of justice said. “The specifications for the capital works in Castlerea are currently in development, and once completed will provide further clarity on the spaces that can be provided there.” This additional capital funding will also be used to advance short term projects currently being pursued by the prison service that are expected to deliver almost 100 spaces this year across the prison estate.
“One such short term project in Castlerea includes the use of modular units and refurbishments of existing buildings,” the spokesperson said. “These works will deliver additional accommodation for prisoners in 2024 and early 2025.”
Among these short term projects are plans to provide ten independent living units located at Castlerea Prison and the refurbishment of a house in the Grove at Castlerea providing an additional six prisoner spaces. The recommissioning of six cells in Castlerea will also provide an additional ten spaces, the Irish Prison Service said.
The option of the delivery of an additional 28 standard and six disabled access cells providing up to 68 closed prisoner spaces at Castlerea Prison’s Harristown Unit is also being explored.
