An upgraded prison for female inmates has been formally opened at Limerick Prison.
It provides single-room accommodation with full shower facilities, televisions, and phones for 56 women prisoners, along with a number of what are described as 'independent living' apartment type units to rehabilitate long-term prisoners for life on release.
There is also a mother-and-baby unit to allow some inmates to have their young babies with them for up to a year to allow bonding to take place.
The accommodation is trauma informed, recognising that while women have been committed to prison for offences, there are significant issues in their background that led to the offences.
This new prison is providing safe and therapeutic living conditions for those women who have been convicted of crimes to serve their time in light filled modern spacious units.
They also have access to a gym three times a day, seven days a week, and to education and work training.
There is also supportive health, psychology therapy and counselling services to help them in their prison life.
The doors to each cell are now opened electronically, with the prisoner's name, number and regime listed with a tap on the electronic pad, instead of the key and sliding shutter lock-up doors of prison cells of the past.
Chief Prison Officer Shane Kelly said it is a major change in accommodation from the congested conditions that existed before, when women at Limerick Prison were housed in a building dating back to 1821.
He said cramped conditions in the past have led to a lot of frustration and flashpoints for prisoners. He said the privacy of their own space has made a difference, with prisoners being much more respectful of their own cell space.
They are also out of their cells for up to ten hours of the day attending the canteen, education and work classes or medical and counselling services.
There are also eight independent living spaces, 2 two-roomed and 6 single-room apartments where long-term prisoners due for release, and who have become institutionalised, can learn how to cook and look after themselves after a long time in custody.
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80-90% of the women prisoners have come from an abusive or coercive background and while they are there to serve their sentence, the aim of the new prison accommodation is to provide a safe and secure space for them while in custody.
Caron McCaffrey, who is Director General of the Prison Service, said many of the women had come from violent backgrounds, had suffered physical, domestic and sexual abuse and trauma and might never have experienced the type of accommodation they receive in prison.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, who visited the new facility today, said that the irony for many of the inmates is that they feel safe for the first time in the prison environment, when they are away from the violence or abuse of their lives outside.
"The focus on rehabilitation is the way to change behaviour and this is good for the women, their families and the community," the Minister said.
She said as they expand capacity in the prison service, they are implementing best practice in the type of accommodation they can provide and this is the template for further prison accommodation upgrades.
