Country | Ireland, Republic of |
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Ministry responsible |
Department of Justice and Equality
|
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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 | |
info@irishprisons.ie
| |
Head of prison administration (and title) | Caron McCaffrey
Director General
|
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners) | 5 086
at 29.11.2024 (national prison administration)
|
---|---|
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population) | 93
based on an estimated national population of 5.44 million at end of November 2024 (from Irish Central Statistics Office figures)
|
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population) | 19.7%
(29.11.2024)
|
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population) | 5.3%
(29.11.2024)
|
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population) | 0.8%
(31.1.2023 - under 18)
|
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population) | 14.6%
(31.1.2023)
|
Number of establishments / institutions | 12
(2024)
|
Official capacity of prison system | 4 519
(29.11.2024)
|
Occupancy level (based on official capacity) | 112.5%
(29.11.2024)
|
Prison population trend (year, prison population total, prison population rate) |
|
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Prison population now ‘unsafe and unacceptable’ as it nears 5,000, prison officers say
Prison overcrowding raises risk of violence, warned Department of Justice in plea for more funding
More than 120 inmates sleeping on floor of prison cells due to overcrowding
Mental health care needs not fully met in some prisons - report
Group set up to address prison overcrowding as inmate numbers reach record
Pages
Exploring values and quality of life for prisoners and staff in the Irish Prison Service. Presentation to the Council of Europe
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) visit reports: Ireland
Annual Report 2013/14
Strategic Review of Penal Policy
US State Department Human Rights Country Report 2013: Ireland
Pages
Irish Penal Reform Trust
- Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend
- Female prison population: trend
- Prison population trend up to 2000
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 | Percentage | Pre-trial/remand |
2000 | 379 | 13.1% | 10 |
2024 | 1,003 | 19.7% | 18 |
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 | Percentage | Female prison |
2000 | 84 | 2.9% | 2.2 |
2024 | 269 | 5.3% | 4.9 |
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 trend up to 2000
The figures below give an indication of the prison population trend in the years up to 2000. They supplement the more recent figures that are shown at the foot of the Overview page and in the graphs below.
IRELAND
Year |
Prison |
Prison population rate |
1922 |
674 |
23 |