There are 14 institutions in the Irish Prison System consisting of 11 traditional “closed” institutions, two open centres, which operate with minimal internal and perimeter security, and one “semi-open" facility with traditional perimeter security but minimal internal security (the Training Unit). The majority of female prisoners are accommodated in the purpose built “Dóchas Centre” and the remainder are located in a separate part of Limerick Prison. 16 and 17 year old boys are held in a separate wing in St Patrick's Institution, in contravention of international human rights standards.
Information on the individual prisons is included below.
Image: Irish Prison Service
Mountjoy Prison
North Circular Road,
Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 8062800
Fax: 01 8062824
Governor: Mr. Edward Whelan
Current operational capacity*: 590
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 616
Recommended maximum**: 540
Mountjoy Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 17 years and over. It is the main committal prison for Dublin city and county and the largest penal institution in the State.
Dóchas Centre
North Circular Road,
Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 8858987
Fax: 01 8858910
Governor: Ms. Mary O'Connor
Current operational capacity*: 105
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 129
Recommended maximum**: 88
Dóchas Centre is a closed, medium security prison for females aged 18 years and over. It is the committal prison for females committed on remand or sentenced from all Courts outside the Munster area.
St. Patrick's Institution
North Circular Road,
Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 8062896
Fax: 01 8307705
Governor: Mr. Hector Mac Lennan
Current operational capacity*: 217
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 204
St. Patrick’s Institution is a closed, medium security place of detention for males aged 16 to 21 years. It accommodates both remand and sentenced prisoners.
Training Unit
Glengarriff Parade,
North Circular Road,
Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 8062890
Fax: 01 8307460
Governor: Mr. Edward Whelan
Current operational capacity*: 127
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 115
Recommended maximum**: 96
Training Unit is a semi-open, low security prison for males aged 18 years and over, with a strong emphasis on work and training.
Wheatfield Prison
Cloverhill Road,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Tel: 01 6209400
Fax: 01 6209430
Governor: Mr. William Connolly
Current operational capacity*: 670
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 671
Wheatfield Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 17 years and over. It is the committal prison for counties Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Wexford and Wicklow.
Cloverhill Remand Prison
Cloverhill Road,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Tel: 01 6304530 / 01 6304531
Fax: 01 6304580
Governor: Mr. Sean Quigley
Current operational capacity*: 431
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 433
Recommended maximum**: 446 (with more activities)
Cloverhill Remand Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 17 years and over which primarily caters for remand prisoners committed from the Leinster area.
Arbour Hill Prison
Arbour Hill,
Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 6719333
Fax: 01 6799518
Governor: Mr. Liam Dowling
Current operational capacity*: 148
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 151
Recommended maximum**: 131
Arbour Hill Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 17 years and over. Its prisoner profile is largely made up of long term sentenced prisoners.
Limerick Prison
Mulgrave Street,
Limerick.
Tel: 061 204700
Fax: 061 415116
Governor: Mr. Eamonn Mullane
Current operational capacity*: 290 males and 34 females
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 301 males and 31 females
Recommended maximum**: 185 males and 24 females
Limerick Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males and females aged 17 years and over. It is the committal prison for males for counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and for females for all six Munster counties.
Cork Prison
Rathmore Road,
Cork City,
Cork.
Tel: 021 4518800
Fax: 021 4518860
Governor: Mr. James Collins
Current operational capacity*: 272
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 295
Recommended maximum**: 146
Cork Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 17 years and over. It is the committal prison for counties Cork, Kerry and Waterford.
Castlerea Prison
Harristown,
Castlerea,
Co. Roscommon.
Tel: 094 96 25213
Fax: 094 96 26226
Governor: Mr. Martin Reilly
Current operational capacity*: 351
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 364
Recommended maximum**: 300
Castlerea Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 17 years and over. It is the committal prison for remand and sentenced prisoners in Connaught and also takes committals from counties Cavan, Donegal and Longford.
Loughan House Open Centre
Blacklion,
Co. Cavan.
Tel: 071 9853059
Fax: 071 9853234
Governor: Mr. Patrick Kavanagh
Current operational capacity*: 160
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 122
Recommended maximum**: 160 (with more activities)
Loughan House Open Centre is an open, low security prison for males aged 18 years and over who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.
Midlands Prison
Dublin Road,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.
Tel: 05786 72110 / 72100
Fax: 05786 72219
Governor: Mr. Colm Barclay
Current operational capacity*: 616
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 586
Recommended maximum**: 497
Midlands Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 17 years and over. It is the committal prison for counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.
Portlaoise Prison
Dublin Road,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.
Tel: 05786 21318
Fax: 05786 20997
Governor: Mr. Derek Brennan
Current operational capacity*: 359 (increased during 2009)
Daily Average Occupancy in 2011: 270
Recommended maximum**: 359
Portlaoise Prison is a closed, high security prison for males aged 17 years and over. It is the committal prison for those sent to custody from the Special Criminal Court and prisoners accommodated here include those linked with subversive crime.
Shelton Abbey
Arklow,
Co. Wicklow.
Tel: 0402 42300
Fax: 0402 42350
Governor: Mr. Michael Lawton
Current operational capacity: 110
Daily average occupancy in 2011: 102
Shelton Abbey is an open, low security prison for males aged 19 years and over who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.
Source: Irish Prison Service
* “Current operational capacity” means the number of beds currently available to accommodate prisoners in the prison.
** “Recommended maximum” is as stated by the Office of the Inspector of Prisonsin The Irish Prison
Population – an examination of duties and obligations owed to Prisoners, 2010.