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MOST OF IRELAND’S main prisons are over 90% full with some even over capacity.
The Irish Prison Service says that there are currently 3,852 prisoners in custody in the State meaning that 92% of the available beds are taken.
The highest rate is in the women’s prison in Mountjoy which currently houses 122 women from 105 beds available. It’s not the only prison over capacity with Cloverhill, Cork and Limerick prisons both at 100% capacity or above.
The Irish Prison Service also says that there are currently 587 prisoners on temporary release from prison, representing 12.8% of the total number of prisoners in the system.
Annual reports from visiting committees to five prisons have also been published today with overcrowding and drug use among the issues highlighted by the committees.
The five prison reports published were Mountjoy Prison, the Midlands Prison, Wheatfield Prison, Castlerea Prison and the Training Unit.
The Mountjoy report points to a number of different ways overcrowding affect the operation of the prison. It notes that complaints have reduced at the prison in 2013 and makes reference to an increased number of prisoners being locked-up for longer periods for their protection. This has however decreased in 2014 the report says.
In Wheatfield, the report notes how how drugs remains a problem in the prison and says that there is evidence that vulnerable prisoners and visitors can be bullied and threatened to bring in drugs.
The report from the Training Unit visiting committee make reference to the introduction of methadone into open prisons on the foot of a European Law Directive.
It says that there was unease over the plans but that the programme “is working successfully so far”.
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I do feel sorry for genuine asylum seekers but in reality the vast majority seem to be economic migrants. Also our appeal system is a joke it really needs to be updated 3 appeals and your out. I have a friend who was working in the immigration office in Dublin and has since left and the stories he told me are a joke
@Graham Light: does that justify burning their accommodation down, or…
@Paddington C.: No certainly not
@Paddington C.: Do you know what caused the fire ? Maybe wait until you find out ?
@Pl O’neill: Ya like that was an accident, how dare anyone speculate that this fire was started deliberately.
100 of them to moville, 100 to roosky, 100 to Wicklow and 80 to kenmare all in the space of 4 weeks. Also great tourist towns too! Shame! Why can’t Saudi Arabia take in refugees/asylum seekers! DP costs Ireland €68 million a year. We have to say now from now on.
@Donal: Yawn.
@Donal: Google UN Global compact for migration.
It’s the end of the nation state as we know it.
I used to detest Justin Barrett, but I’ll be voting for the National Party if given the opportunity next time out.
@Donal: Because our politicians keep saying yes to Europe.I would not like one of these centres near me.Let the snowflakes begin.
@Donal: My comment about the building program was removed.
@Donal: DP is very profitable for those running them.
@Patricia McCarthy: Let me guess, you weren’t all on board with the Journal’s progressive pro-immigration policy?
That champagne socialist president has plenty of space in the aras for them in dublin, near all the help they need.
@Adrian: Ssshhh. He is rather busy right now, reading his own poetry.
All for allowing genuine asylum seekers. Let them go through the process and if genuine allow them stay. Ban appeals process this is the biggest problem with our system.
In regards to the fire it does seem very suspicious indeed but it could be genuine also it is a wait and see.
@JesusMoreBullshit: can see this happening more,.
Strange that my comment about being robbed last night by two South American men was removed. I wasnt stating that all South American people are bad.
not a word about this on rte 12 noon news…..
No room at any of the Inn’s for Asia Bibi.
yea right, the place just spontaneously combusted.
It was petrol bombed
@Diar O Doc: Any confirmation on that?
have your say