'Violence in our prisons showing significant increase', Kilkenny conference hears
'Overcrowding in our prisons is a national scandal’ – Prison Officers Association
The Prison Officers Association annual delegate conference is currently under way in Kilkenny.
Peter Redmond, acting President of the Association said there are now a record 5,909 (on March 24, 2026) prisoners in custody in prisons, which have a capacity for 4,736 prisoners.
"This represents a shortfall of 1,173 bed spaces - and this combined with the myriad of well-established issues resulting as a direct consequence of overcrowding, is a national scandal," he said.
"Overcrowding allows the bully and the gangs to thrive and ensures that the vulnerable prisoner becomes even more vulnerable. The level of intimidation, violence, availability of contraband; to include drugs weapons and phones, all increase in an overcrowded environment.
"Despite the fact that the prison population has doubled to 5909 in the past 26 years, just one new prison has been built in this time, the Midlands prison. This overcrowding issue was first raised by the Prison Officers Association, some 50 years ago but successive governments have failed us and the prisoners we are supposedly rehabilitating. The Midlands prison for example has a bed capacity of 891. There are 1,128 prisoners in custody there today and 160 prisoners are sleeping on a cell floor. Is this progress – no it’s neglect and a lack of interest and real commitment, to a vulnerable section of our society.
"We learned earlier this year that out of the overall total of 5,817 prisoners in custody at that time, 2,425 prisoners were on a waiting list to get psychological support. Some 40% needing help and medical intervention. This is a mental health crisis within our prisons and what are we actually doing to help? We are creating an overcrowded environment which will exasperate their mental health and addiction issues.
Mr Redmond said the minister of the day is responsible for all that impacts either positively or negatively of prisons and those who work or reside therein. Some 70 additional bed spaces have been created since Minister Callaghan was appointed, however an additional 460 people have been imprisoned during this period.
"The minister will know just as well as the rest of us that 6.5 into 1 does not go. He has work to do and he has a responsibility to get this work done," he said.
Later today, (Thursday, April 30) the prison officers will discuss the significant increase in violence within prisons during 2025. Violence in our prisons has gone up by an alarming 37.5%, from 1,093 incidents in 2024 to 1,503 incidents in 2025. Direct physical assaults on prison officers, has increased by 23%, from 107 to 132 incidents.