The Government is doing nothing to address rapidly declining prison conditions, despite overcrowding reaching record highs, according to Social Democrats justice spokesperson Gary Gannon.
Deputy Gannon said:
“Irish prisons have been bursting at the seams for years now, yet no substantive action has been taken to address these worsening conditions by the Minister for Justice.
“There are over 6,600 prisoners in the prison system, 1,900 more than the number of beds available. There are almost 30% more prisoners than there are beds in Irish jails.
“This overcrowding has led to an increase in violence and attacks on prison staff, as well as the empowerment of organised crime groups when it comes to smuggling drugs, weapons, phones and other contraband inside prison walls.
“This has created subhuman conditions, with many of those incarcerated forced to sleep on floors, often in cramped conditions and next to toilets and unsanitary surfaces.
“In January, the Chief Inspector of Prisons presented the clearest and most serious warnings we have heard about the state of our prison system to the Oireachtas Justice Committee, urging immediate action. The Minister for Justice has failed to heed these warnings.
“Instead, the Minister has made choices which have perpetuated the problem, such as by choosing to detain people who are awaiting deportation – people who are not violent offenders and who do not belong in prison cells.
“Detention must always be necessary, proportionate, and justified – that is a fundamental principle of any justice system worthy of the name. What we are seeing now is detention being used as a performative tool.
“Rather than investing in alternatives and relieving pressure on a system in crisis, he is doubling down on policies that will deepen that crisis.
“Expanding prison capacity without looking at the causes of crime will not solve systemic problems, as short custodial sentences do not reduce reoffending. There must be proper resourcing of youth diversion schemes, community sanctions, bail support schemes, and greater investment in the Probation Service.
“It’s time that Minister O’Callaghan starts addressing these issues instead of contributing to them.”
April 30th, 2026