It's under a proposal by the Justice Minister to create 960 new spaces nationally.
The Justice Minister wants to create 960 extra prison spaces over the next five years to tackle chronic overcrowding.
The country’s jails are currently operating at 115% capacity, with an 11% rise in prisoners over the past year.
Portlaoise Prison is operating at 124% capacity, with Midlands Prison at 118%.
Midlands Prison will be in line for an extra 180 spaces under the current plan.
Castlerea Prison will receive an extra 150 spaces and the Dochas Centre in Dublin will get 50 more female spaces.
The Old Cork Prison will be demolished and rebuilt under the plans creating 230 male and 100 female spaces.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the increased capacity is important:
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