Bishop Hayes: There is not enough space to accommodate prisoners. We must do more.

Bishop Martin Hayes called for more prison space and better rehabilitation methods to address overcrowding in the Republic of Ireland.

As the Liaison Bishop to the Irish Prison Service for the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, Hayes noted that as of July 9, 2026, approximately 520 prisoners were sleeping on mattresses on the floor in overcrowded cells near unpartitioned toilets. He stated that while the Irish Prison Service attempts to provide care, the lack of space remains a fundamental problem.

Hayes released his statement to mark Prisoners' Sunday on October 11, 2026. He argued that respecting the basic human rights of prisoners is necessary for successful rehabilitation. He suggested that society must respond by either building more prison facilities or developing alternative forms of rehabilitation.