Census of In-Cell Sanitation and Occupancy in Irish Prisons October 2016

28th October 2016

The Irish Prison Service Statistics Office has recently published its quarterly statistical analysis of prison population, cell occupancy and in-cell sanitation facts and figures for October 2016.

The report assesses the number of cells available in each institution and the number of those cells that are occupied by multiple prisoners. The report further looks into the number of prisoners who either do not have in cell sanitation or have to make use of toilet facilities in the presence of others.

Key statistics from the report:

• The prison population currently stands at 3,667;
• 54% (or 1,968) of the total prison population are accommodated in single cells at present;
• 641 cells accommodated 2 prisoners (1,282 prisoners);
• 110 cells accommodated 3 prisoners (330 prisoners);
• 22 cells accommodated 4 or more prisoners (87 prisoners);
• 42 (1%) of prisoners were required to slop out;
• 1,593 (43%) prisoners were required to use the toilet in the presence of another;
• 2,032 (55%) prisoners had access to private toilet facilities;
• 5 prisoners were accommodated in safety observation cells;
• 8 prisoners were accommodated in close observation cells.

Read the full findings of the census here.