Over €2 billion has been approved for the Sectoral Investment Plan for Justice which will support the increased prison capacity, opening of new Garda stations and new courthouses and further investment in the National Cyber Security Centre. The five-year plan will also deliver key technology for An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice and the wider justice sector.
The five-year funding allocation of €2.18 billion negotiated by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan, under the recent National Development Plan (NDP) Review, will support major capital projects in the justice sector from 2026-2030.
It represents an increase of over €800 million on the previous NDP in 2021 and is the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of the State. Minister O’Callaghan said that the allocation of €2.18 billion for the Justice Sector Capital Plan will have “a transformative impact on the justice sector over the next five years”.
Minister O’Callaghan added that this plan sets out his strategic investment priorities and outlines key capital projects to keep the public safe and enhance the security of the State. Priority projects will be delivered by the Department of Justice, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Courts Service and Fiosrú (Ireland’s Police Ombudsman’s Office). He noted that this “record funding for capital development is essential and will deliver a wide range of major projects across the country”.
A total of €495m will be allocated to the Irish Prison Service (IPS) from 2026-2030 to further increase prison capacity. Construction projects are being planned at Castlerea, Cloverhill, Mountjoy, Portlaoise, Wheatfield, Midlands, Dóchas and Old Cork prisons during this period. It will also include planning for the construction of a new prison at Thornton Hall in North County Dublin, while an additional €32m will be provided to fund technology and fleets for the prison service.
Minister O’Callaghan added: “The Government has approved a record investment in capital funding to deliver on my commitment to accelerate the delivery of more than 1,500 additional prison spaces by 2031.” He announced that he has secured the funding to help alleviate overcrowding, noting that “the Irish Prison Service has a strong track record in delivering projects, with over 190 additional spaces delivered in the last 18 months”.
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