Prison Facilities in Ireland
There are 12 institutions in the Irish prison system consisting of 10 traditional “closed” institutions and two open centres, which operate with minimal internal and perimeter security.
The Training Unit at Mountjoy, From 7 April 2017, is a semi-open, lower-security facility designed to support rehabilitation and help prisoners prepare for their eventual release and reintegration into the community, through work, education and training.
The majority of female prisoners are accommodated in the purpose-built Dóchas Centre on the Mountjoy campus in Dublin, and the remainder are accommodated in a separate part of Limerick Prison which added a new standalone female wing in 2023.
Youth Justice System
In 2017, St Patrick’s Institution, a facility for males aged 16 to 21 was incorporated into Mountjoy Prison.
Oberstown Children Detention Campus now provides care and education for young people under 18, both male and female, who are subject to detention or remand orders.
Information on the individual prisons is included below.
Image: Irish Prison Service
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Arbour Hill Prison
Arbour Hill, Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 6719333
Fax: 01 6799518
Governor: Amanda Sutton
Current operational capacity: 137
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 135
Arbour Hill Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 18 years and over. Its prisoner profile is largely made up of long term sentenced prisoners.
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Castlerea Prison
Harristown, Castlerea,
Co. Roscommon.
Tel: 094 96 25213
Fax: 094 96 26226
Governor: Theresa Beirne
Current operational capacity: 371
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 440
Castlerea Prison is a closed, medium security prison for adult males. It is the committal prison for remand and sentenced prisoners in Connaught and also takes committals from counties Cavan, Donegal and Longford.
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Cloverhill Prison
Cloverhill Road,
Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Tel: 01 6304530 / 01 6304531
Fax: 01 6304580
Governor: Kevin O’Connell
Current operational capacity: 433
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 498
Cloverhill Remand Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males, which primarily caters for remand prisoners committed from the Leinster area.
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Cork Prison
Rathmore Road,
Cork City, Cork.
Tel: 021 4518800
Fax: 021 4518860
Governor: Liam Spacey
Current operational capacity: 296
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 367
Cork Prison is a closed, medium security prison for adult males. It is the committal prison for counties Cork, Kerry and Waterford.
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Dóchas Centre (Mountjoy Female Prison)
North Circular Road, Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 8858987
Fax: 01 8858910
Governor: Ray Murtagh
Current operational capacity: 145
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 194
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.
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Limerick Prison
Mulgrave Street, Limerick.
Tel: 061 204700
Fax: 061 415116
Governor: Michael O'Mahony
Current operational capacity: 338 males / 56 females
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 381 males / 86 females
Limerick prison is a closed, medium security prison for adult males and females. It is the committal prison for males for counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary and for females for all six Munster counties.
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Loughan House Open Centre
Blacklion, Co. Cavan.
Tel: 071 9853059
Fax: 071 9853234
Governor: Mark Lydon
Current operational capacity: 153
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 130
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.
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Midlands Prison
Dublin Road, Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.
Tel: 05786 72110 / 72100
Fax: 05786 72219
Governor: Mark Kennedy
Current operational capacity: 891
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 1,026
Midlands Prison is a closed, medium security prison for adult males. It is the committal prison for counties Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.
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Mountjoy Campus, Dublin
Campus Governor: Ray Murtagh
- Mountjoy Prison
- Dóchas Centre
- Training Unit Place of Detention (Governor: Patricia Kelleher)
Mountjoy Prison
North Circular Road, Dublin 7.
Tel: 01 8062800
Fax: 01 8062824
Governor: Ray Murtagh
Current operational capacity: 831
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 999
Mountjoy Prison is a closed, medium-security prison for males. It is the main committal prison for Dublin City.
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Portlaoise Prison
Dublin Road, Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.
Tel: 05786 21318
Fax: 05786 20997
Governor: Des O'Shea
Current operational capacity: 225
Daily Average Occupancy in 2025: 276
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.
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Shelton Abbey
Arklow, Co. Wicklow.
Tel: 0402 42300
Fax: 0402 42350
Governor: Joseph Donohue
Current operational capacity: 121
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 104
Shelton Abbey is an open, low security prison for males aged 19 years and over who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.
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Wheatfield Place of Detention
Cloverhill Road,
Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Tel: 01 6209400
Fax: 01 6209430
Governor: David Treacy
Current operational capacity: 622
Daily average occupancy in 2025: 684
Wheatfield Place of Detention is a closed, medium security place of detention for adult males.
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Source: Irish Prison Service
* “Current operational capacity” means the number of beds currently available to accommodate prisoners in the prison.
