Minister for Justice secures €93m additional capital funding under the NDP for Justice projects in 2024-2026

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD has secured an additional capital funding of €93m under the National Development Plan (NDP) for Justice projects in 2024-2026. This brings to €930m the total capital allocation available for the Justice sector in 2024-2026.

The funding, which was approved by Cabinet last week, will be used across the Justice sector together with a reallocation of existing funding to address a number of key priorities, including further increasing prison capacity, opening new Garda stations and delivering key technology projects for An Garda Síochána.

Welcoming the funding, Minister McEntee said:

This funding is the very welcome result of extensive negotiations which have been ongoing for some time, and which will now allow us to deliver on a number of very significant commitments across the Justice sector. The significant allocation for the Irish Prison Service will allow it to address current capacity issues within our prison system and ensure that it is fit-for-purpose for a growing population in the years to come, building upon the increases in prison spaces already being delivered this year through a range of short term projects.

In addition, the allocation for An Garda Síochána will allow it to expand upon the technological innovations currently available to them. This is important as it has been a priority of mine since becoming Minister for Justice to improve the protections and technology available to Gardaí, in order to better support them as they continue to protect and serve our communities.

Of the €93m funding allocation, €49.5m is being allocated to the Irish Prison Service in 2024-2026 to further increase prison capacity and address current capacity constraints in the Prison Estate. Preparatory work will commence this year on four key projects in Cloverhill, Castlerea, Midlands and Mountjoy prisons as part of an accelerated capital construction programme with construction expected to start on a phased basis in 2025 – 2027.

When completed, space for up to 670 prisoners will be created. The Irish Prison Service is also currently advancing a number of short term projects which separately have the potential to provide an additional 95 spaces in 2024.

Minister McEntee commented:

Today’s announcement of additional funding means we have a plan to ensure our prison estate is big enough to hold those who cause damage and misery in our communities. Hundreds of new prison places will be created, adding to the 200 plus spaces we have introduced in the past few years. It is important that we continue to review and plan for additional capacity, which may be needed given increasing populations, and the introduction of some higher maximum prison sentences, including for assault causing harm and conspiracy to murder, which will have impacts on the amount of time people spend in prison.

It is also an announcement I am glad to be able to make on a day on which I will be welcoming a new class of Prison Officers who are graduating today. This allocation sends the message to those new recruits, and to their colleagues across the IPS, that we value their contribution and are improving the working and living conditions for them and the people in their custody, with the ultimate goal of ensuring our prisons are safe, provide dignity of care and rehabilitation to prevent reoffending and build safer, stronger communities.

A further €26.2m of the allocation is being allocated to Garda ICT to implement key technology projects including body worn cameras, enhanced cybersecurity, and improved Garda security vetting systems.

Minister McEntee continued:

I am delighted to have secured additional funding to provide for the roll-out of body worn cameras. To me, their rollout is key - key to protecting front line Gardaí, key to assisting them in gathering evidence for prosecutions, and key also to modernising policing in general. My priority is to see Bodycams on Gardaí in Dublin City Centre, in Waterford and in Limerick ahead of a full nationwide roll-out, and I am working with the Commissioner to make sure that will become a reality before the Summer.

Additional funding is being provided in 2024-2026 to complete existing Garda Estate projects such as refurbishment works in Slane, Co. Meath and Abbeyleix, Co. Laois and development of a new Garda Station in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. Work is also underway on development of new Garda stations in Macroom Co. Cork, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and Portlaoise, Co. Laois with construction expected to start on these projects later this year.

The Minister concluded:

The construction of brand new state of the art Garda stations in Portlaoise, Clonmel, Macroom, Bailieborough are strategic priorities for An Garda Síochána and will have a huge impact on the local communities which they serve.

Funding is also being provided to An Garda Síochána which could be used to purchase up to 15 additional electric vehicles and two public order vehicles in 2024.

In addition to the ongoing support for the construction of the new Family Law Courts at Hammond Lane via PPP, funding is being provided to the Courts Service for IT modernisation projects, site acquisitions, capital works and sustainability projects. The Department is also continuing to implement its IT Strategy and additional funding is being provided in 2024-2026 for this together with funding to support the establishment of the new Gambling Regulator and enhancement of Immigration Service IT systems.

ENDS.