The current state of Ireland’s prison system is appalling for both those in custody and the prison officers working there, according to Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon, the party’s justice spokesperson, said:
“With over 5,300 people incarcerated, nearly 400 sleeping on floors, and violent incidents occurring daily, the system is bursting at the seams.
“Officers and prisoners face danger in overcrowded, high-tension environments where safety is far from guaranteed.
“Inmates are being held in degrading conditions – confined for up to 22 hours a day, often beside unpartitioned toilets, and without access to basic rehabilitation services. This isn’t justice – it’s neglect.
“I have raised this issue time and again – we cannot continue to criminalise poverty, addiction, and homelessness by defaulting to imprisonment.
“The government must act immediately to increase capacity and, more importantly, invest in meaningful alternatives to incarceration.
“Rehabilitation and safety must be priorities – not afterthoughts.”
May 1st, 2025