Irish Penal Reform Trust says prison conditions are going backwards.
Cork Prison was the most overcrowded prison in the state as of yesterday with 337 people incarcerated - 76 more than the same time last year.
The group which campaigns for rights within the penal system says a large number those in the prison system are serving sentences of 12 months or less and could serve community sentences instead.
Saoirse Brady of Irish Penal Reform Trust says conditions for prisoners' are getting worse:
"Prison conditions are going backwards. We were getting to a point particularly over Covid where were seeing prison numbers dropping, that was also because the courts were closed. But what we're seeing now is an increase in numbers, but it's way above pre-pandemic levels as well. You know, we are reaching record highs now. And that's just not acceptable, particularly when Government policy is in place to try and reduce the number of people in prison overall."
