POA Conference Dinner Address Minister Jim O’Callaghan

Kilkenny, 30 April 2026

Acting President Peter Redmond, members of the National Executive, Branch representatives, guests and delegates.

Go raibh maith agaibh as ucht cuireadh a thabhairt dom teacht go Cill Chainnigh anocht.

I am honoured to join you this evening to mark the opening of your 79th annual conference.

I have visited many of our prisons since taking office and I have seen firsthand your professionalism, your care and your compassion.

I’m conscious that because you work within our prison walls, the general public rarely gets to see the vital job that you do and the fine public service that you deliver.

I would therefore like to start by thanking you on behalf of the government for the critical role that you play in our criminal justice system and on behalf of the prisoners in your care whose countless lives you help turn around.

From my conversations with Prisons Officers and the POA, and from what I have seen on my prison visits, I am aware that you face difficult and at times dangerous challenges on a daily basis but you can also effect great change on an individual basis.

On the very real issue of overcrowding in our prisons: I know what the numbers are and I understand the tension that overcrowding causes inside prisons.

When I addressed your annual conference 12 months ago, I committed to continue investing in the prison estate to ensure we have a prison system that is fit for a 21st century Ireland and to support your work with the prisoners in your care.

While the overall challenge remains acute on the ground, I want you to know we are making progress.

Since 2024, 232 spaces have been constructed across the prison estate. I secured a record capital investment of €67.9 million for this year alone as part of a total investment of €500 million from 2026 to 2030.

That €500 million is being invested in building capacity and modernisation with a target of 1,500 spaces by 2031. Last year I secured an exemption from the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers for 6 projects totalling 960 spaces to move straight to Pre Tender Approval 2 stage - a measure that will speed up delivery of projects by 12 to 18 months.

This will include a large extension to the existing Cork Prison, a new block in Wheatfield Prison and an additional block at Midlands Prison.

This is in addition to spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy and the Dóchas Centre.

Last Friday I turned the sod on Phase 2 of The Grove project at Castlerea Prison that will deliver 126 spaces across 21 new housing units.

I am pleased to say that Phase 1 of The Grove project started construction last year and has been completed within 12 months. This is delivering 24 additional spaces and new staff offices.

The government also plans to fund the planning and commencement of the construction of a new prison at Thornton in north County Dublin.

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I am moving forward with other immediate measures to address overcrowding.

The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provision) Bill which I published in January, proposes amendments to support and encourage greater use of Community Service Orders (CSOs) and community sanctions.

Every case that results in a community service order will help to free up prison spaces.

I am also committed to implementing electronic tagging for appropriate categories of prisoner. I am confident I will commence a pilot scheme this year following a procurement tender process that closed earlier this month.

Staffing Resources

Parallel to taking actions to ease overcrowding, it is equally important to me to ensure that your teams are fully resourced and equipped.

I want you to know that I am very conscious of the ongoing pressures on you. My officials are engaging with Irish Prison Service on additional staffing needs through a supplementary estimate. There will be a 19% increase in funding to allow for 210,000 additional staff hours.

Optimising operational capacity – remote hearings

I know your time is precious and your days are long.

The Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 will enable suspended sentence bonds to be taken by prison officers where a person participates in the hearing from custody.

This will greatly facilitate the use of video links in court hearings and free up prison officer time by reducing the need to bring those in custody to and from court.

I hope to introduce further amendments to expand the use of remote hearings and the electronic transmission of documents.

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Recruitment

In addition to optimising the deployment of serving Prison Officers, we are expanding the workforce.

In 2025, a total of 304 Recruit Prison Officers were recruited by the Irish Prison Service. Funding provided to the Irish Prison Service in 2026 will allow for the recruitment of up to 100 additional Prison Officers and up to 50 additional staff.

The most recent recruitment campaign received 1,772 applications which shows the high level of interest that people have in pursuing this incredibly rewarding career.

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Pay and Conditions

I know pay and conditions are a focus of concern for you.

On local bargaining or the “1%” issue, I am aware this is a significant issue for your Association and members. I want to assure you that the government is prioritising a resolution in relation to local bargaining.

You will be aware that my colleague Minister Chambers, and his officials, are responsible for engagement on this matter with ICTU.

I have written to Minister Chambers on the matter particularly as it relates to prison officers. I have also asked my officials to continue to engage with their counterparts in DPER to find a satisfactory resolution.

I understand your concerns and I have reflected these in my discussions.

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Prison Officer Staff safety

Regarding staff safety, even in a healthy, functioning prison environment with well-resourced, experienced teams, significant and harmful incidents do happen.

Any act of violence against prison staff is unacceptable. I know you are highly trained to protect yourselves and to deescalate situations but you must also have the right equipment to do your jobs safely and efficiently.

On the use of incapacitant spray by prison officers, the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026 which I am progressing, provides measures that will remove legal barriers on the use of incapacitant spray in prisons. Once frameworks are in place, targeted pilots will guide future decisions on a wider roll-out.

Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) were issued in search areas in 2023. They were recently trialled in Portlaoise and the intention is to roll out BWCs to other parts of the prison estate.

Mental health in Prisons

I’m acutely aware that a high proportion of the prison population have severe mental health and addiction issues, which adds to the challenges that you face.

I am working closely with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State for Mental Health to ensure our prison system is equipped to deal with these complex needs.

There are firm commitments to establishing a high-dependency unit and to hiring more therapeutic and medical staff, including psychiatric nurses.

On this topic, I place great value on the mental health of Prison Officers. When needed, I encourage you to seek out the support of colleagues and make use of Employee Assistance Services provided by the Prison Service.

Conclusion

I would like to finish by once again sincerely thanking all of you. Every day, under often difficult conditions, you demonstrate the capacity and character to lead, teach, and help shape a better future for those in custody. You are changing lives for the better.

Government has an obligation and a duty to ensure we have a prison system fit for a 21st century Ireland. We will continue to invest in you and in our prisons to ensure that you feel safe and supported in your jobs and that you can work to the very best of your abilities.

But we can only achieve this by working together. I greatly value the information and insights provided by representative groups such as the Prison Officers Association and its members.

Thank you for inviting me to address you this evening and thank you for your invaluable public service.

I wish you the very best for the remainder of your conference.

Enjoy your evening.

Ends.