From:Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan today signed the contract for the construction of a new accommodation block at Cloverhill Prison. The contract was awarded to JJ Rhatigan & Co. A 22-month build time is expected.

The construction project supports the Minister's commitment under the National Development Plan to increase capital investment to address prison overcrowding, increase prison capacity and ensure we have a modern fit-for-purpose prison estate.

Capacity will increase in Cloverhill from 433 to over 700 spaces.

The Cloverhill expansion is the largest building project undertaken by the Irish Prison Service in several years and is a key part of an overall extensive prison building programme which is expected to deliver over 1,500 new spaces between 2024 and 2031.

The project will involve the development of a new four-storey accommodation block as an extension to Block D, incorporating a major new construction project to deliver 143 new cells with capacity for up to 270 prisoners.

Speaking at the contract signing, Minister O’Callaghan said:

Since 2024, 265 spaces have been constructed across the prison estate, with 126 constructed in 2024, 106 constructed in 2025 and 33 constructed so far in 2026. A further 32 spaces will be constructed this year, and 70 in 2027.

Speaking after the contract signing, Caron McCaffrey, Director General of the Irish Prison Service, said:

Minister O’Callaghan has secured a record capital investment of €67.9 million for the Irish Prison Service in 2026, as part of a total investment of €528 million from 2026 to 2030. €495 million will be invested in building projects to deliver on a plan to build over 1,500 prison spaces by 2031.

This capital programme will also include a large extension to the existing Cork Prison on the site of the old, decommissioned Cork Prison, a new block in Wheatfield, and an additional block extension at Midlands prison. This is in addition to spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy, the Dóchas Centre and Limerick Male Prison.

The record capital allocation will also allow for work to start on the planning and development of a new prison on the Thornton site in North County Dublin. A master plan for the site is expected to be developed this year, determining its future use as a combined site for use by the Irish Prison Service, International Protection Accommodation Services and An Garda Síochána with plans to commence works in 2030.

Current Irish Prison Service projects