Justice minister to meet residents over Cork Prison extension plans

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will meet with local groups and residents living near Cork Prison to discuss a planned extension of the facility, the Irish Examiner and Echo Live reported. Preparations are currently being made for meetings between the minister and representatives from the local community, including the Glen Resource Centre. [1][2]

According to the Irish Examiner, community members want the minister to hear directly from people living in The Glen about the impact of the existing jail and its planned expansion. One local resident requested that the minister visit her home to see how her family life is impacted, noting that individuals use her garden walls to throw drugs into the prison yard. [1]

Cork Prison is a closed, medium-security penal institution for males aged over 17, located on Rathmore Road in Cork City. Situated immediately adjacent to Collins Barracks and near The Glen area, the prison had a bed capacity of 296 and a daily average of 262 resident inmates as of 2022. [3]

The upcoming meetings between Minister O'Callaghan and local community representatives aim to address neighborhood concerns before the proposed extension moves forward to boost prison capacity. [1][2]