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Updated to 14 August 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 402 of 2025)

All effects below are reflected in the most recent Revised Act.

Prisons Act 2007
No. 10 of 2007

Contents

Commencement

SectionCommencement DateCommencement Information
Ss. 1 - 3 1 May 2007 Prison Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 180 of 2007), art. 2
Ss. 4 - 10 Not yet commenced. Requires commencement order under s. 1(2)
Ss. 11 - 16 1 October 2007 Prisons Act 2007 (Commencement) (No.2) Order 2007(S.I. No. 370 of 2007), art. 2
Ss. 17 - 32 1 May 2007 Prison Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 180 of 2007), art. 2
Ss. 33, 34 29 August 2008 Prisons Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2008 (S.I. No. 337 of 2008), art. 2
Ss. 35 - 37 1 May 2007 Prison Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 180 of 2007), art. 2
S. 38 1 October 2007 Prisons Act 2007 (Commencement) (No. 3) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 650 of 2007), art. 2
Ss. 39 - 41 1 May 2007 Prison Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 180 of 2007), art. 2
S. 42(a) 1 October 2007 Prisons Act 2007 (Commencement) (No.2) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 370 of 2007), art. 2
S. 42(b), 42(c) 1 May 2007 Prison Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 180 of 2007), art. 2
S. 43 1 May 2007 Prison Act 2007 (Commencement) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 180 of 2007), art. 2

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision Affecting Provision
Commencement Date		 Commencement Source
Act included in collectively cited Prisons Acts 1826 to 2015 Prisons (Ireland) Act 1826 (7 Geo. IV, c. 74)
  Prisoners (Ireland) Amendment Act 1884 (47 & 48 Vict., c. 36)
  Fine or Imprisonment (Scotland and Ireland) Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict., c. 11)
  Prisons (Ireland) Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7, c. 19)
  Prisons Act 1933 (51/1933)
  Prisons Act 1956 (9/1956)
  Prisons Act 1970 (11/1970) (repealed)
  Prisons Act 1972 (7/1972) (repealed)
  Prisons Act 1974 (10/1974)
  Prisons Act 1977 (14/1977)
  Prisons Act 2007 (10/2007)
  Prisons Act 1980 (6/1980)
  Prisons Act 2015 (57/2015), parts 1 and 2, s. 11 and part 4
Collectively cited Prisons Acts applied with modifications Children Act 2001 (24/2001), s. 156B, as inserted by 26/2006 Criminal Justice Act 2006 (26/2006), s. 144 23 July 2007 Children Act 2001 (Commencement) (No. 3) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 524 of 2007)
  Children Act 2001 (24/2001), s. 153(4) 23 July 2007 Children Act 2001 (Commencement) (No. 3) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 524 of 2007)
Application of collectively cited Prisons Acts restricted Employment Equality Act 1977 (16/1977), s. 17B, as inserted by European Communities (Employment Equality) Regulations 1985 (S.I. No. 331 of 1985), reg. 5 2 October 1985 European Communities (Employment Equality) Regulations 1985 (S.I. No. 331 of 1985)
S. 2 amended Prisons Act 2015 (No. 57 of 2015), ss. 1(2), 20 7 April 2017 Prisons Act 2015 (Commencement) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 134 of 2017), art. 2
S. 5 transfer of certain functions under Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1 29 July 2011 Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), art. 1(2)
Part 3 (ss. 11-16) applied Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), rls. 1(2), 27(1), 29(1),66, 67(13), 68(1) 1 October 2007 Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), rl. 1(2)
Part 3 (ss. 11-16) application extended Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), rls. 1(2), 66(1) 1 October 2007 Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), rl. 1(2)
S. 12 applied Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), 1(2), sch. 1, par. 13 1 October 2007 Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), rl. 1(2)
S. 13 references construed "Human Rights Commission" Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 (No. 25 of 2014), ss. 1(3), 8, 44(2) 8 October 2014 Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 (Commencement) Order 2014 (S.I. No. 449 of 2014), art. 3(c)
S. 15 applied Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), 1(2), sch. 1, par. 13 1 October 2007 Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007), rl. 1(2)
S. 15(7) transfer of certain functions under Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1 29 July 2011 Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011)
S. 16(4) transfer of certain functions under Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1 29 July 2011 Finance (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 418 of 2011)
Part 4 (ss. 17-29) repealed Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (24/2023), ss. 1(5), 74 1 August 2023 Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 (Commencement) Order 2023 (S.I. No. 391 of 2023), art. 3(e)
S. 20(1)(c) transfer of functions Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 339 of 2020), arts. 1(2), 3, schedule 9 September 2020 Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 339 of 2020), art. 1(2)
  Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 192 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3(1) & sch., pt. 1 1 May 2011 Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 192 of 2011), art. 1(2)
S. 28(1)(c) substituted Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 (26/2023), ss. 1, 240(a) Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(12)
S. 28(3) amended Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 (26/2023), ss. 1, 240(b) Not yet commenced. Commencement order required under s. 1(12)
S. 28 transfer of functions Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 339 of 2020), arts. 1(2), 3, schedule 9 September 2020 Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 339 of 2020), art. 1(2)
  Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 192 of 2011), arts. 1(2), 3(1) & sch., pt. 1 1 May 2011 Heritage (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 192 of 2011), art. 1(2)
S. 33 repealed Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 (13/2020), ss. 1(2), 5(1), (2) 14 September 2020 Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 307 of 2020), art. 2(a)
S. 34 repealed Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 (13/2020), ss. 1(2), 5(1), (2) 14 September 2020 Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 (Commencement) (No. 2) Order 2020 (S.I. No. 307 of 2020), art. 2(a)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 18(1) Direction Under Section 18(1) of Prisons Act 2007 (S.I. No. 240 of 2012)
  Direction under Section 18(1) of Prisons Act 2007 (S.I. No. 251 of 2007)
S. 35 Prison (Disciplinary Code for Officers) (Revocation) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 261 of 2020)
  Prison (Amendment) Rules 2020 (S.I. No. 250 of 2020)
  Prison (Amendment) Rules 2018 (S.I. No. 507 of 2018)
  Prison (Amendment) Rules 2017 (S.I. No. 276 of 2017)
  Prison (Amendment) (No. 2) Rules 2014 (S.I. No. 385 of 2014)
  Prison (Amendment) Rules 2014 (S.I. No. 227 of 2014)
  Prison Rules (Amendment) 2013 (S.I. No. 11 of 2013)
  Prison (Disciplinary Code for officers) (Amendment) Rules 2009 (S.I. No. 438 of 2009)
  Prison Rules 2007 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007)