295. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware of commitments given to the people of the Glen and surrounding areas on the opening of the new prison in Cork that the former prison site would not be reopened as a prison. [26394/25]
Topics / Prison Service
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsPrison Service
493 questions from 78 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
493
questions
486 written, 7 oral
78
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
7
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 9 |
| February 2025 | 27 |
| March 2025 | 14 |
| April 2025 | 23 |
| May 2025 | 23 |
| June 2025 | 25 |
| July 2025 | 51 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 46 |
| October 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 31 |
| December 2025 | 24 |
| January 2026 | 37 |
| February 2026 | 19 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| April 2026 | 16 |
| May 2026 | 65 |
| June 2026 | 11 |
| July 2026 | 12 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 8 |
| October 2026 | 9 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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77
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71
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44
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35
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24
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21
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17
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14
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
296. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice to update on the community dividend committed to the people of the Glen and surrounding areas, following the opening of the new Cork prison site. [26395/25]
97. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Justice the number of psychologists employed in each prison; and the number of vacant psychologist positions. [26137/25]
99. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Justice his views in relation to the noise from industrial fans being emitted from Mountjoy Prison, particularly close to the walls of residential areas, which is having a severe impact on the residents in the surrounding areas, especially at night. [26147/25]
653. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice the average cost to keep a prisoner in custody; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25225/25]
654. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice to outline any plans he has in relation to attempting to reduce the prison population size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25226/25]
119. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice in light of the worsening crisis of prison overcrowding, where over 350 people are reportedly sleeping on floors and prison numbers are at a record high, the steps he is taking to implement meaningful decarceration policies, including non-custodial sentencing and investment in community supports. [24597/25]
149. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the steps he is taking to address prison overcrowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24603/25]
161. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on the overcrowding at Cork Prison; the steps being taken to address the capacity issues on site at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24538/25]
169. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Justice to outline the rationale for closing the progression unit in Mountjoy Prison; the action taken to accommodate the rehabilitation of prisoners who were resident in Mountjoy Prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24600/25]
265. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice if there is a policy in place within the Irish Prison Service to notify victims of serious crime when the person convicted has died in prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24901/25]
141. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice in the context of the statement in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI, the number of scheduled classes that were cancelled in each prison over the period 2015-2025; the reasons for such cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24767/25]
142. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice in the context of the statement in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report that all Prison Education Centres meet the quality assurance standards demanded by QQI, the reason classes in prisons are not provided on a year round basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24768/25]
851. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the information considered by Government when making a decision (details supplied); if the governor of the prison provided a recommendation and supporting documentation in support of the decision made; if due process was followed and if he will outline how it was applied in this case; if all of the information relative to this decision will…
852. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 539 of 5 July 2022 if he will review the information that was “not suitable for release by the Irish Prison Service” relative to an attempted escape from Portlaoise Prison on 18 May 1988 and determine if this information can be released now 37 years after the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23378/25…
868. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of whole-time and part-time prison chaplains working in each prison, in tabular form. [23478/25]
869. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of vacant chaplain posts in each prison, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23479/25]
870. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of drone-related contraband drops into prisons; the measures he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23542/25]
319. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if he has taken steps to protect the safety and wellbeing of a person and others (details supplied) in Portlaoise Prison; and if he has taken steps to stop the flow of drugs into the prison. [22312/25]
323. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the estimated full-year costs to recruit an additional 300 prison officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22345/25]
107. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the projected recruitment pipeline for prison officers in 2025 to 2027; the projected attrition rate; and the expected net staffing change. [21490/25]
108. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the estimated annual cost of detaining one person in prison versus the cost of supervising one person on a community sanction, and the projected fiscal impact of achieving the Department of Justice's 1,500 additional prison place target versus equivalent investment in community measures. [21491/25]
116. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Justice his views on whether it is appropriate for staff of the Irish Prison Service to attend an event that includes a keynote address by a senior official in the Israeli prison service (details supplied); if he will ensure that members of staff of the Israeli prison service do not visit any prisons in this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21414…
123. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average daily prison population and the official bed capacity of each custodial institution for the months January to March 2025; the percentage occupancy for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21475/25]
124. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice whether he accepts that the State is in breach of its obligations under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights owing to current overcrowding levels, and what immediate actions he will take. [21476/25]