(LRC Revised)

Number 57 of 2015

PRISONS ACT 2015

REVISED

Updated to 12 June 2026

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an

administrative consolidation of the

Prisons Act 2015

. It is prepared by the Law

Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the

Law Reform Commission Act

1975

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and

consolidation of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

International Co-operation (Omagh Bombing Inquiry) Act 2026

(12/2026), enacted 3 June 2026, and all statutory instruments

up to and including the

International Protection Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026

(S.I. No. 244 of 2026), made 10 June 2026, were considered

in the preparation of this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has

been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume

no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning

the

accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not

accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify

any

errors, omissions and comments by email to revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

57

of

2015

PRISONS ACT 2015

REVISED

Updated to 12 June 2026

CONTENTS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title, commencement and

collective citation

2. Definitions

3. Repeals and revocation

4. Expenses

PART 2

Closing of Saint Patrick’s Institution

5. Definitions (Part 2)

6. Power of Minister to close Saint

Patrick’s Institution

PART 3

Amendments Consequential on Closing of Saint Patrick’s Institution

7. Amendment of section 212A(1) of

Defence Act 1954

8. Amendment of Criminal Justice Act

1960

9. Amendment of section 50(a) of

Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961

10. Amendment of section 3(1) of

Extradition Act 1965

11. Amendment of Prisons Act

1970

12. Amendment of First Schedule to

Juries Act 1976

13. Amendment of Criminal Justice

(Community Service) Act 1983

14. Amendment of section 5(1) (c)

of Data Protection Act 1988

15. Amendment of section 47(8) of

Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002

16. Amendment of Transfer of

Execution of Sentences Act 2005

17. Amendment of section 98 of

Criminal Justice Act 2006

18. Amendment of section 2(1) of

International Criminal Court Act 2006

19. Amendment of section 1 of

Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006

20. Amendment of section 2 of

Prisons Act 2007

21. Amendment of section 2(1) of

Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008

22. Amendment of section 32(4) of

Freedom of Information Act 2014

PART 4

Closing of Prisons

23. Amendment of section 2 of

Prisons Act 1933

PART 5

Miscellaneous

24. Taking of certain persons from

prison for the purposes of deportation or removal from the State

25. Amendment of section 41 of

Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851

Acts Referred to

Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 (No.

39)

Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act 1983 (No.

23)

Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008 (No.

7)

Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners)

Act 2003 (No. 34)

Criminal Justice Act 1960 (No. 27)

Criminal Justice Act 2006 (No. 26)

Criminal Justice Administration Act 1914 (4 & 5 Geo. 5 c. 58)

Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act 1976 (No.

14)

Data Protection Act 1988 (No. 25)

Defence (Amendment) Act 2007 (No. 24)

Defence Act 1954 (No. 18)

Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006 (No. 33)

Extradition Act 1965 (No. 17)

Freedom of Information Act 2014 (No. 30)

Immigration Act 2004 (No. 1)

Immigration Act 1999 (No. 22)

International Criminal Court Act 2006 (No.

30)

Juries Act 1976 (No. 4)

Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 (14 & 15 Vict., c. 93)

Prevention of Crime Act 1908 (8 Edw. 7, c. 59)

Prisons Act 1933 (No. 51)

Prisons Act 1970 (No. 11)

Prisons Act 1972 (No. 7)

Prisons Act 2007 (No. 10)

Prisons Acts 1826 to 2007

Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004 (No.

6)

Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002 (No. 6)

Transfer of Execution of Sentences Act 2005 (No.

28)

Number

57

of

2015

PRISONS ACT 2015

REVISED

Updated to 12 June 2026

An Act to provide for the closing of Saint Patrick’s Institution; to make further provision for the closing of prisons; for those purposes

to amend the Prisons Act 1933 and to provide for consequential amendments to certain

other enactments; to make provision, in respect of certain persons who are serving

sentences of imprisonment, for the purposes of deportation or removal from the State;

to amend the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851; and to provide for related matters.

[25

th December

, 2015]

Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows

CONTENTS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title, commencement and

collective citation

2. Definitions

3. Repeals and revocation

4. Expenses

PART 2

Closing of Saint Patrick’s Institution

5. Definitions (Part 2)

6. Power of Minister to close Saint

Patrick’s Institution

PART 3

Amendments Consequential on Closing of Saint Patrick’s Institution

7. Amendment of section 212A(1) of

Defence Act 1954

8. Amendment of Criminal Justice Act

1960

9. Amendment of section 50(a) of

Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961

10. Amendment of section 3(1) of

Extradition Act 1965

11. Amendment of Prisons Act

1970

12. Amendment of First Schedule to

Juries Act 1976

13. Amendment of Criminal Justice

(Community Service) Act 1983

14. Amendment of section 5(1) (c)

of Data Protection Act 1988

15. Amendment of section 47(8) of

Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2002

16. Amendment of Transfer of

Execution of Sentences Act 2005

17. Amendment of section 98 of

Criminal Justice Act 2006

18. Amendment of section 2(1) of

International Criminal Court Act 2006

19. Amendment of section 1 of

Electoral (Amendment) Act 2006

20. Amendment of section 2 of

Prisons Act 2007

21. Amendment of section 2(1) of

Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) Act 2008

22. Amendment of section 32(4) of

Freedom of Information Act 2014

PART 4

Closing of Prisons

23. Amendment of section 2 of

Prisons Act 1933

PART 5

Miscellaneous

24. Taking of certain persons from

prison for the purposes of deportation or removal from the State

25. Amendment of section 41 of

Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851

Number

57

of

2015