Councillor Noel Cribbin feels it's needed to combat a lack of prison spaces in the Midlands.
People who break the law in the Midlands risk avoiding prison due to a lack of available spaces.
That is the view of Cllr Noel Cribbin, who says people appearing before the courts may not receive appropriate sentences because of pressure on prison capacity.
The Edenderry councillor says he has seen cases involving individuals facing multiple summonses or allegations of assault, claiming they are not always dealt with effectively.
Cllr Cribbin attributes this, to the shortage of prison spaces, arguing that those engaging in criminal behaviour are aware of the limitations within the system.
He believes the situation reflects a system that is too lenient towards those who break the law.
His comments come as fellow Offaly County Councillor Hugh Egan has put forward a motion calling for a new prison to be built in the Midlands.
Cllr Cribbin also claims that the lack of prison capacity could lead to people currently serving sentences being released early to make room for new inmates.
He says an additional prison in the Midlands is badly needed to address the issue and ensure the justice system can respond effectively to criminal behaviour:
Both Cllr Cribbin and Cllr Egan have called for a tougher approach to anti-social and threatening behaviour, with a new prison in the region being proposed as a key step towards tackling the problem.
Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme.
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