Prisons and Alternative Sentencing Options: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-22
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Robbie Gallagher (FF), Labour Panel

The Minister is welcome back to the House. We in Fianna Fáil very much welcome this important debate. We are acutely aware of the significant capacity pressures across the prison system and the challenges they create for staff, those in custody and the general public. Providing adequate prison capacity is essential for public safety, rehabilitation and the effective functioning of our justice system. That is why I am delighted to hear that the Minister is prioritising investment in the prison estate, with €495 million committed between 2026 and 2030 to deliver over 1,500 additional prison spaces by 2031.
However, as the Minister outlined, increasing capacity alone is not enough. We must also reduce the unnecessary reliance on custodial sentences. For many offences carrying sentences of up to 24 months, community service can often serve both the public interest and rehabilitation goals, particularly during times of overcrowding. I welcome the fact that legislative changes have been introduced to support greater use of community service orders. The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which completed Second Stage in January this year, proposes amendments to the community service Act 1983 to support and encourage greater use of community service orders, CSOs. I fully support that legislation. In fact, I have spoken to many people in my own area who have partaken of that scheme and it has put them on a new pathway. It is hugely positive. The Bill includes an amendment to oblige courts to consider a community service order in lieu of a prison sentence of up to 24 months' duration, the current threshold being 12 months, and to give reasons why they consider a CSO should not be imposed in such a case. It will also increase the maximum community service order that a judge may order from 240 hours to 480 hours.
The latest statistics show the cost of housing a prisoner in prison for 12 months is up to €99,000 per annum, which is a huge sum. It is €256 per day to keep someone in prison. It is an alarming figure and one that we must keep in mind.
As the Minister mentioned, there will be investment in the Probation Service for developing electronic monitoring and expanding early release and reintegration programmes, particularly for women. Importantly, we are focusing on prevention. Youth diversion initiatives now being rolled out nationwide aim to break the cycle of offending through early intervention, family supports and community engagements. Through these combined measures and increased capacity, smarter sentencing and early intervention, I am delighted to see that the Department and the Minister are building a safer, fairer and more effective justice system. I wish him well in that continued work.
I am sharing time, if that is in order, with my colleague, Senator Fitzpatrick.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-22