Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne TD; Irish Prison Service Director General Caron McCaffrey, and Governor of Mountjoy Prison Ray Murtagh, pictured at the launch of both strategies in Mountjoy Prison on 29 November 2023.
Two new strategies launched for the Irish Prison Service have marked a new chapter in the approach to imprisonment and substance abuse within Ireland’s prison system, following an extensive consultation process to identify the strategic priorities that will shape its operations over the next five years.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne TD, said that both strategies represent the culmination of extensive consultation and collaboration, which involved senior management and staff from across the prison estate, and, for the first time, engagement with those in custody facilitated by the Irish Red Cross.
He officially launched the Irish Prison Service ‘Statement of Strategy 2023-2027’ and the ‘Drugs Strategy 2023-2026’ at Mountjoy Prison last November. “This contribution has provided a roadmap for the Irish Prison Service to enhance prisoner rehabilitation, improve employee experiences, streamline processes, embrace digital platforms, and strengthen governance,” he noted.
“Furthermore, the new drug strategy underscores our commitment to reducing the harm caused by substance abuse within our prisons. Prisons are their own communities within communities, and anything we can do to make this community safer, benefits us all.”
Five key pillars to shape Irish Prison Service priorities over the next five years:
- Prisoner Pathways
- Employee Experience
- New Business Processes
- Digital Platforms
- Governance Framework
Highlighting the commitment to ensuring a safe and rehabilitative environment for both staff and prisoners, IPS Director General Caron McCaffrey said that both strategies “enable us to address the challenges we face while providing clear direction for the future. By working together, we can make a meaningful impact on prisoner pathways, employee wellbeing, operational efficiency, digitalisation and overall governance”.
