€93m additional capital funding for Justice projects

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has secured an additional capital funding of €93m under the National Development Plan (NDP) for Justice projects in 2024-2026.

The funding, which was recently approved by Cabinet, will be used across the Justice sector together with a reallocation of existing funding to address a number of key priorities, including further increasing prison capacity, opening new Garda stations and delivering key technology projects for An Garda Síochána.

Of the €93m funding allocation, €49.5m is being allocated to the Irish Prison Service in 2024-2026 to further increase prison capacity and address current capacity constraints in the Prison Estate. Preparatory work will commence this year on four key projects in Cloverhill, Castlerea, Midlands and Mountjoy prisons.

A further €26.2m of the allocation is being allocated to Garda ICT to implement key technology projects including body worn cameras, enhanced cybersecurity and improved Garda security vetting systems.

Additional funding is being provided to complete existing Garda Estate projects such as refurbishment works in Slane, Co. Meath and Abbeyleix, Co. Laois and development of a new Garda Station in Bailieborough, Co. Cavan. Work is also underway on development of new Garda stations in Macroom Co. Cork, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and Portlaoise, Co. Laois, with construction expected to start on these projects later this year.

Funding is also being provided to An Garda Síochána which could be used to purchase up to 15 additional electric vehicles and two public order vehicles in 2024.