Irish Penal Reform Trust

16/10/2026

On 1 October 2026, IPRT launched Progress in the Penal System (PIPS) 2025, the eighth edition of its flagship report assessing progress and ongoing challenges across Ireland’s penal system. Guided by 35 human-rights-based standards, the report identifies areas of progress, highlights where urgent improvements are needed, and sets out evidence-based recommendations for reform.

This year’s report places a particular focus on mental healthcare in Irish prisons, examining barriers to accessing essential treatment and the impact of unprecedented overcrowding on the rights, dignity and wellbeing of people in prison.

The launch featured presentations from report author Martha Lewis, IPRT Policy and Research Coordinator and keynote speaker Prof. Gautam Gulati, alongside a panel discussion featuring Mark Kelly, Chief Inspector of Prisons; Fíona Ní Chinnéide, Deputy Director of the Probation Service; Donna Creaven, Director of Corporate Services, Governance & ICT at the Irish Prison Service; and Dr Brenda Wright, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Executive Clinical Director and Clinical Director of the National Forensic Mental Health Service.

The discussion explored mental healthcare, overcrowding and the need for progressive penal reform.

Watch the highlight video from the event:

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05/10/2026

ICYMI: IPRT's 2025 PIPS Report launch was covered on RTÉ’s Six One News on Thursday, 1 October, with IPRT's Executive Director, Saoirse Brady, speaking about the state of Ireland’s prison system in 2025.

PIPS 2025 shines a spotlight on the lack of pathways to psychiatric care for people with serious mental illness, and the barriers people in prison face in accessing the care they need, challenges that are being exacerbated by overcrowding.

The message is clear: people with serious mental health needs need access to appropriate healthcare and should be supported in a therapeutic setting, not prison.

Watch the coverage:
https://www.rte.ie/news/player/six-one-news-web/2026/1001/ (Timestamp: 20:15)

02/10/2026

We’re catching our breath at IPRT after the launch of our flagship report, "Progress in the Penal System (PIPS) 2025", which takes stock of progress and ongoing challenges across Ireland’s penal system.

IPRT’s Martha Lewis, the report author, presented the key findings, highlighting areas of progress, identifying where improvement is urgently needed, and setting out evidence-based recommendations for change across 35 key standards.

This year’s report has a particular focus on mental healthcare in Irish prisons — including the challenges faced by people with serious mental illness who are held in prison due to a lack of pathways to appropriate psychiatric care, and the barriers people in prison face in accessing the mental healthcare they need. These challenges are compounded by current levels of overcrowding.

Our keynote speaker, Prof Gautam Gulati, brought these issues into sharp focus, speaking about the realities of mental healthcare in prisons and sharing images that were, at times, difficult to look at. His presentation was a powerful reminder of the human impact of the issues explored in the report and left a lasting impression on everyone in the room.

The launch also featured a video from UISCE (National Advocacy Service for People who use Drugs in Ireland), giving voice to people with lived experience and offering a powerful insight into the realities and challenges they face within the system.

We were also delighted to hear from our expert panel: Mark Kelly, Chief Inspector of Prisons; Fíona Ní Chinnéide, Deputy Director of the Probation Service; Donna Creaven, Director of Corporate Services, Governance & ICT at the Irish Prison Service; and Dr Brenda Wright Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Executive Clinical Director and Clinical Director of the National Forensic Mental Health Service.

Thank you to all our speakers, panellists and contributors for sharing their expertise and perspectives, and to everyone who joined us for the launch and contributed to the discussion on mental healthcare and the need for progressive penal reform in Ireland.

PIPS 2025 is on our website now: https://www.iprt.ie/iprt-publications/progress-in-the-penal-system-pips-2025/

30/09/2026

IPRT Executive Director Saoirse Brady spoke to RTÉ about the urgent need to strengthen measures to prevent drugs and other contraband entering prisons. Saoirse highlighted that advanced anti-drone netting has proved effective in prisons where it has been installed, but that this protection needs to be considered across the prisons in the estate.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust has said advanced anti-drone netting needs to be rolled out across all Irish prisons to stop drugs getting in.

28/09/2026

IPRT’s 4 key asks for hashtag

Ireland’s prison overcrowding crisis is worsening year-on-year. It cannot be separated from the wider cost-of-living, housing and mental health crises.
In our Pre-Budget Submission, IPRT is calling on Government to strategically invest in four key areas:

1. Alternatives to imprisonment & community-based sanctions
2. Mental health & addiction supports within the criminal justice system
3. Supports for families & children affected by imprisonment
4. Modernising data systems across the criminal justice system

We are calling for greater investment in prevention, diversion and community sanctions to help build a fairer, more effective criminal justice system.

Read IPRT’s full hashtag submission: https://iprt.ie/iprt-submissions/iprt-pre-budget-submission-budget-2027/

28/09/2026

IPRT was delighted to attend the launch of the 2025 Annual Report of Tosú - new beginnings for people with convictions in Ireland, highlighting their work supporting people with convictions into employment and new opportunities.

We were also pleased to see the launch of "Our Special Day" a storybook created with fathers in Shelton Abbey to help children experience visiting a parent in prison in a different way.

Two really positive examples of work that puts people and their families at the centre.

Congratulations to everyone at Tosú — and to all those who made both projects possible.

24/09/2026

PROGRESS IN THE PENAL SYSTEM (PIPS) 2025 - REPORT LAUNCH!

Examining progress and challenges in Ireland’s penal system, with a focus on mental healthcare in prisons.

Keynote: Prof. Gautam Gulati
Panel: Mark Kelly, Fíona Ní Chinnéide, Donna Creaven
Chair: Ashling Golden

Date: 1 October 2026
Time: 10:30am (Registration from 10am)
Venue: IHREC Event Space - Dublin 7 - D07 CR20

Register: https://www.iprt.ie/upcoming-events/progress-in-the-penal-system-pips-2025-report-launch/

18/09/2026

Register now for the launch of the "Progress in the Penal System (PIPS) 2025" Report, examining progress and ongoing challenges across Ireland’s penal system, with a particular focus on mental healthcare in Irish prisons.

This year’s report assesses performance against 35 key standards, highlighting areas of progress, urgent gaps, and evidence‑based recommendations for change. It also explores the experiences of people with serious mental illness who remain in prison due to limited pathways to psychiatric care, and the impact of overcrowding on access to appropriate treatment.

Keynote Speaker
Prof. Gautam Gulati — Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist; Adjunct Professor, University of Limerick; Member for Ireland, European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT)

Expert Panel
Mark Kelly — Chief Inspector of Prisons, Office of the Inspector of Prisons
Fíona Ní Chinnéide — Deputy Director, Probation Service
Donna Creaven — Director of Corporate Services, Governance & ICT, Irish Prison Service

Chair: Ashling Golden — Justice Programmes Manager, Solas Project

The event will include a panel discussion on the need for progressive penal reform in Ireland, grounded in human rights, equality, dignity, transparency and accountability.

Date: 01 October 2026
Time: 10:30am (Registration from 10am)
Venue: IHREC Event Space, Dublin 7

Register: https://www.iprt.ie/upcoming-events/progress-in-the-penal-system-pips-2025-report-launch/

17/09/2026

IPRT's 2025 Annual Report is out.

IPRT launched the report at our AGM yesterday, reflecting on a year of research, advocacy and work towards a more just and effective criminal justice system.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and contributed to our work over the past year.

Read the report: https://bit.ly/4xOSmvv

12/09/2026

Last chance to apply!

IPRT is recruiting an Administration, Governance and Membership Officer.
This role is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious candidate to join a high‑profile, dynamic NGO and support IPRT’s administration, governance and membership functions.

IPRT is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from people from diverse backgrounds, including people with criminal records. We do not ask for information about convictions during the recruitment process.

Applications close at 12 noon on Monday 14 September 2026.

Click here for more information: https://www.iprt.ie/recruitment/