Ireland, Republic of

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CountryIreland, Republic of
Ministry responsible
Department of Justice and Equality
Prison administration
Irish Prison Service
Contact address
IDA Business Park, Ballinalee Road, Longford, Co. Longford, Republic of Ireland.
Telephone
+353 43 33 35100
Fax
+353 43 33 35371
Website
Email
info@irishprisons.ie
Head of prison administration (and title)
Caron McCaffrey
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
4 883
at 29.2.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
91
based on an estimated national population of 5.37 million at end of February 2024 (from Irish Central Statistics Office figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
18.9%
(29.2.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
5.0%
(29.2.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
0.6%
(31.1.2022 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
15.4%
(31.1.2022)
Number of establishments / institutions
12
(2024)
Official capacity of prison system
4 514
(29.2.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
108.2%
(29.2.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 2,948 77
2002 3,165 81
2004 3,199 79
2006 3,191 75
2008 3,544 80
2010 4,290 94
2012 4,318 94
2014 3,915 84
2016 3,718 78
2018 3,893 80
2020 3,717 74
2000 2,948 77
2002 3,165 81
2004 3,199 79
2006 3,191 75
2008 3,544 80
2010 4,290 94
2012 4,318 94
2014 3,915 84
2016 3,718 78
2018 3,893 80
2020 3,717 74

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                      IRELAND

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015

379
478
642
543

13.1%
15.8%
14.8%
14.6%

10
11
14
12

2024

922

18.9%

17

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.                                                      

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                      IRELAND

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015

84
102
154
127

2.9%
3.4%
3.5%
3.4%

2.2
2.4
3.4
2.8

2024

242

5.0%

4.5

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.  

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate