Cork Prison improvements recognised at official opening

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has highlighted the significant improvements at Cork Prison at the official opening of the new €44 million prison building.

The prison has been fully operational since February, but Ms Fitzgerald said at the official opening that it was “important that we formally acknowledge this achievement”.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has welcomed the improved facility, which will not continue the practice of “slopping out”.

Speaking at the official opening, Ms Fitzgerald said: “This Government, and indeed the last, has committed significant resources to the improvement of the prison estate. In keeping with our commitment to eliminate slopping out, the focus of capital investment in prisons has been weighted towards achieving that goal.

“On the 27th June last, I launched the Irish Prison Service’s Capital Strategy 2016-2021. This ambitious programme will see the complete replacement of the outdated accommodation in Limerick and Portlaoise prisons as well as improvements across a number of other prisons.

“I’m proud to say that, on completion of the Limerick and Portlaoise projects, we will have completely eliminated “slopping out” across the prisons estate, a practise long condemned by the CPT, the Inspector of Prisons and many others.”

The number of men slopping out in prison in Ireland has been reduced from just over 1,000 to around 85 since 2011.