Former Kildare military prison could be re-opened to ease overcrowding in prisons

The Irish Prison Service (IPS) is in talks with the Defence Forces to reopen the Curragh military prison. The prison is located inside the Curragh Camp which is used as an army base and the main training centre for the Irish Defence Forces.

If plans were to go ahead, the now vacant Curragh military prison would be recommissioned to accommodate prisoners.

The site on the Curragh in Co Kildare was formerly used as a military detention unit, however it was taken over by the Irish Prison Service in the 1990s who used it as a civilian prison until 2003.

The prison is now owned by the Department of Defence.

In a statement to the Irish Independent, a spokesperson from the Department of Justice confirmed that the facility was being examined by Minister Helen McEntee and the Department as a potential option to “help meet future IPS needs”.

“The Minister is committed to exploring all potential options to meet future IPS needs, including at Thornton Hall and the Curragh,” said the spokesperson.

“The Department has had initial engagements with the Department of Defence, which owns the prison in the Curragh, regarding a possible recommissioning of the prison as a place of detention.

“The outcome of a technical assessment of the prison is awaited. The prison in the Curragh was previously used by IPS for a number of years up to 2003.”

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Elsewhere, the Department of Justice are also implementing other measures to ensure that Irish prisons are fit for purpose and have the space to meet current and future capacity needs.

The spokesperson added that capital funding has been secured to commence plans at four prisons across the country to accommodate a further 670 people.

“The Minister has already secured additional capital funding of €49.5m to commence delivery of plans for 4 capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons to accommodate up to 670 people. Preparatory works will commence on those projects this year as part of an accelerated capital construction programme.”

The funding will also be used to advance short term projects, currently being pursued by the Prison Service, that are expected to deliver over 150 spaces this year.

In addition, over 200 new spaces in Irish prisons were created in recent years with the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick and the new standalone female prison in Limerick.