Flanagan highlights prison improvements on last visit of the year

Mr Flanagan visited Portlaoise Prison and the Midlands Prisons to meet and recognise staff before the Christmas period, accompanied by Michael Donnellan, director of the Irish Prison Service.

The minister commended Governor Ethel Gavin, the Campus Governor of the Portlaoise Prison Campus which includes both prisons, and her staff for their dedicated work in managing more than 25 per cent of the total prisoner population.

Portlaoise Prison (with 231 prisoners) is a high security prison while the Midlands Prison (with 833) is the largest prison in the State.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Flanagan said: “I commend the Irish Prison Service for its continued implementation of the Government policy of rehabilitative initiatives, in conjunction with the Probation Service, the aim of which is to protect the public and make Irish society safer.

“Much of the important work undertaken by the Prison Service and the Probation Service goes unseen but it is vital work and greatly valued by me as the Minister for Justice and Equality.”

He highlighted the significant decrease in prisoner numbers due to reforms providing for alternatives to prison, with a 15 per cent decrease over four years in the overall daily average number in custody.

In relation to Portlaoise Prison specifically, Mr Flanagan highlighted the prison service’s advanced plans for the refurbishment of the outdated E Block & the Demolition of the D Wing.