The only prison purpose-built for people refused bail is expected to increase its intake in the coming months, despite concerns voiced by an international monitoring group that it could become very cramped.
Cloverhill prison in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, is due to start building up to full capacity once measures widening the grounds for refusing bail take effect next week.
The prison opened on a phased basis last December and currently has some 150 inmates. It will eventually house up to 450 prisoners awaiting trial in 108 triple cells and 68 single cells.
However, a Council of Europe delegation which reported recently to the Government recommended no more than two prisoners per cell.
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) commended the high standard of equipment in the prison, but expressed concern that three prisoners will be held in cells measuring 10.4 square metres, describing this as "very cramped conditions".
In its written reply, the Government defended the triple cells, citing overcrowding in the prisons system, the short period of time spent in prison by unconvicted prisoners and the constraints of the prison site. But it said its medium-term objective was to make single cells available for those who wish to be alone.
A Prison Service spokesman said three people would be put into a triple cell in Cloverhill only "as a last resort and under maximum pressure".
The bail changes will allow courts to detain people awaiting trial where gardai believe they may commit further crimes. The new provisions stem from a 1996 constitutional amendment which could not be implemented until the extra accommodation in Cloverhill prison became avail able.
Mr Ian O'Donnell of the Irish Penal Reform Trust said it was "pleased that a facility has been built to separate remand prisoners from sentenced prisoners, but the quality of the institution leaves a lot to be desired.
"To reduce overcrowding in Mountjoy, we have built a prison basically designed for overcrowding. To put innocent people in what will probably be the worst conditions in the system is unacceptable."
Mr O'Donnell said remand prisoners were disproportionately more likely to harm themselves in custody and were often very vulnerable, due to the uncertainty of their future.
Remand prisoners can be held for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years depending on the seriousness of the charge facing them, according to Mr Micheal P. O'Higgins, who has written about the bail changes in the Bar Review. He said there were often "ludicrous delays" between a person being charged and tried.