Record €2.180bn additional capital funding for justice sector procured

This is an increase of some €800 million on the previous NDP in 2021.

The funding will be allocated to “significantly” increase prison capacity, invest in Garda stations, courthouses, the National Cyber Security Centre and for key technology projects for An Garda Síochána and the wider justice sector.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “This record funding boost for capital development will deliver a wide range of critical major projects across the justice sector. A key priority for me was to secure the necessary funding for the Irish Prison Service to deliver up to 1,500 additional prison spaces. €495m is being allocated to the Irish Prison Service from 2026-2030 with projects planned at Castlerea, Cloverhill, Mountjoy, Portlaoise, Wheatfield, Midlands, Dóchas and the Old Cork prison site. The capital allocation will also, for the first time, allow substantial work to commence on the development of a new prison at Thornton in North County Dublin. 

“I am very pleased to announce a major investment in the security of the State with funding provided for the Gardaí, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and my own Department for new immigration and border systems. The technology investment for An Garda Síochána will deliver a new security HQ along with cutting edge digital systems across security, policing and corporate functions.

“I have also prioritised a record investment for An Garda Síochána to support the completion of new Garda Stations and to support a rolling programme of refurbishment works at Garda stations across the country. A further priority was to expand facilities at the Garda College in Templemore to allow for increased Garda training which will support the Government’s target of recruiting an additional 5,000 Gardaí and 2,000 Garda Reserves.”