Inmates in Castlerea Prison spend an average of just 5 hours outside of their cell each day according to a new report.
The Irish Penal Reform Trust released their 5th Progress in the Penal System report today.
Analysis from the organisation found the Roscommon Prison has one of the lowest averages time that inmates spend outside of their cells, nationwide.
Previous P.I.Ps reports have called for 12 hours of out of cell time to be standard.
With Covid visiting restrictions in place over the last 2 years, many prisons including Castlerea had phones installed in each cell.
In Cavan, the report criticised that all 88 inmates at Loughlan House Open Prison must take their meals in their cells as their is no communal dinning areas available.
The report also found that the Irish penal system should have a higher proportion of open prisons like Loughlan House as overcrowding has become a major issue at many traditional prisons.
Deputy Director of the IPFT Molly Joyce wants to see more single-occupant cells given to prisoners, with increased access to communal spaces:
