WITH at an annual outlay of over €65,000 per bed space, the cost of running Limerick Prison is budgeted at almost €19,000,000, but current figures show that the facility absorbs over €24,000,000 annually, it was revealed this week. The closed medium security Mulgrave Street prison houses male prisoners from Clare Limerick and Tipperary and females from Munster’s six counties. Minister Alan Shatter said he has “requested the Irish Prison Service to proceed with the preparation of plans for a major redevelopment at Limerick prison
to replace the early 19th century “A” and “B” Wings.
“This will provide a new modern 100 cell accommodation block with in cell sanitation, a dedicated committal unit and a high support unit, ancillary support services, additional recreational areas and a new kitchen facility with work training facilities”.
Overcrowding, reflecting an increase in crime, detection and conviction, is the “greatest challenge facing the Irish Prison Service,” according to Justice Minister Alan Shatter, in the annual report for 2011.
Figures released in the document show that a slight increase was recorded over 2010, but in total, over 17,000 people were committed to prison last year.
And Limerick Prison is showing that overcrowding is adding to the difficulty faced by the Mulgrave Street unit.
Minister Shatter said; “The problem of prison overcrowding remains a challenging issue which unfortunately, cannot be resolved overnight”.
At a staffed prison space cost of over €1,200 per week, Limerick Prison accounted for the detention of 342 male prisoners in cells with a bed capacity of just 290. Some 71 males were on temporary release, making the prison responsible for over 400 male prisoners at any one time.
The female population in Limerick Prison, under the governance of Eamonn Mullane, was running at maximum with all 34 female units fully occupied, and a further 29 females on temporary release.
On a national level the figures are further reflected with 5,014 prisoners occupying cells around the country, with a bed capacity of 4,486. Those daily averages were taken in November 2011. 785 prisoners were on temporary release.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust said it welcomed the “levelling off figures” of committals in 2011 but again described the situation of overcrowding throughout Irish prisons as “worrying”.
With a reflection of people’s inability to pay fines, there was a 10% rise nationally for those sent to prison for less than three months.
IPRT executive director, Liam Herrick, said that they noted the “sharp increase” in female prisoners sent to prison as well as “fine defaulters”. This, they said, was something that “Government must address immediately”.
Overall, 13,952 persons were sent to prison in 2011 compared to 13,758 in 2010, which represents an increase of 1.4%. Of those 86.4% were male and 13.6% were female.
Minister Shatter said: “As Minister for Justice and Equality, I am committed to ensuring that the range of options available to the judiciary is broad and includes a modern and upgraded prison system.
“However, progress is being made. There are 300 new prison places in the Midlands Prison, which will be operational by the end of the year.
“I am continuing to pursue alternatives to custody where they are appropriate and to address the issue of the lack of in cell sanitation in prisons”.
The minister also noted that a new prison was to be developed in Cork that would accommodate 250 prisoners.
