Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Almost 18,000 prisoners in Ireland were recorded as not receiving visits in a year, according to new figures. Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows that between 2019 and 2024, an average of nearly 2,900 prisoners a year were left without standard visitation, with the figures peaking in 2021 during the pandemic, when 3,147 inmates did not receive any normal visits. The figures, provided by the Irish Prison Service, reflect the number of incarcerated people each year who are not visited by family and friends. Saoirse Brady, executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), said families often faced barriers when trying to maintain contact with incarcerated loved ones. “For many families, prison visiting times are not family friendly, often taking place in the middle of a weekday meaning they have to make a difficult choice between seeing their loved one for a short visit and taking time off work or missing school on a regular basis,” Brady said. “Families, including those with small children, often have to travel for hours and take multiple forms of transport to see their family member for half an hour or less.” (Image: PA Images) She also highlighted ongoing issues with booking systems and technology glitches. “Phones in some prisons are rarely answered, and online booking systems are often inaccessible, making it almost impossible to book a visit, plan ahead and actually see your family member face-to-face.” She added that video calls – introduced during the pandemic – can be beneficial for some families living far from prisons but can also be affected by “tech issues”. She added: “That means that the virtual visit won’t go ahead causing disappointment not only for the person in prison but also their partner and children sitting waiting at home. “We’ve heard of relationships breaking down because of that disconnect and the frustration felt by many parents because of how difficult it is to keep in touch and know what’s going on in their children’s lives.” She added: “There are a variety of reasons why people mightn’t get visits. (It) could be because they are living so far away from their family, some don’t want their family to see them in prison, or some don’t have contact with family. Also some people may be in for very short periods of time – days, weeks or months so perhaps families couldn’t make the trip in that timeframe. “ Irish prisoners are entitled to receive one weekly physical family visit, or one virtual visit, lasting no more than 30 minutes, with three adult visitors permitted on a physical visit. The Irish Prison Service said it is “acutely aware of the need for prisoners to maintain contact with their families and friends”, describing such contact as a vital support in rehabilitation and re-entry into the community. An IPS spokesperson said video visits introduced during the pandemic had proven “very successful,” with over 12,000 video calls conducted in 2025. “Prisoners can avail of one 20-minute video visit per week to nominated family and friends. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.