Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 11: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the report by the Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly; his proposals on the back of its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16733/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the 2010 annual report of the Inspector of Prisons which I published on 30 May 2011. In his report the inspector states the Irish Prison Service and local management should be aware of what he regards as best practice and that he expects all prisons will comply with this by 1 July. He also states he appreciates that prisons in certain areas will not be able to comply with this in the short term. I welcome the inspector's report and believe the work he does is valuable. The report mentions, inter alia, the use of special cells, prisoners' complaints and the procedure to be followed following the deaths of people in custody. New procedures have been drawn up in respect of these issues. They will be supported by changes to the prison rules which I regard as being of particular benefit and importance. The appropriate amendments to the prison rules have been prepared in the Department of Justice and Equality and are being finalised in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General. The inspector's report also refers to minimum standards for prison accommodation and the regimes and services that should be provided.

The Government is committed to the elimination of slopping out in prisons. The upgrading of more than 100 cells at Mountjoy Prison will be completed by the end of the summer. When taken with the completion of the construction projects mentioned previously, that will mean 80% of the prisons estate will have in-cell sanitation by mid-2012. Feasibility studies are taking place with regard to the further implementation of the programme of refurbishment. The number of people in prison does not allow all of the inspector's standards to be met in the short term.

The problem of prison overcrowding remains a challenging issue. On 22 June there were 4,433 prisoners in custody. The figure was 2,919 in 2000. Some 400 additional prisoner places will come on stream by mid-2012. The committee examining the Thornton Hall project is due to report by 1 July 2011 and I believe it will meet that timeframe.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

I am pursuing alternatives to custody. The Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill will require judges to consider imposing community service in any case where the appropriate sentence would otherwise be a custodial one of up to 12 months imprisonment. I have asked my officials to look at a scheme where suitable long-term prisoners might have the last period of their custodial sentence replaced by a form of community service.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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It is welcome that the review of the Thornton Hall project will be completed by 1 July. The Minister mentioned some of the recommendations made in the report. Obviously, they cannot be implemented because of the overcrowded conditions. I appreciate that legislation has been introduced to provide for community service orders and similar measures that would reduce the number of prisoners in the system. Does the Minister agree that it is imperative that we have a safe environment in our prisons? In particular, we need to provide drug-free support units in all prisons. We must do everything we can to ensure prisoners have the resources they need to kick any drug habits they may have.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy. It is important that we provide a safe environment. I would like drug-free spaces to be allocated in every prison. I would like prisoners who are addicted to drugs to have every opportunity to come off them, rather than merely substituting methadone for them. A substantial portion of the prison population are on methadone. I am examining what reforms I can introduce in the prison system within the limited resources available to me. I look forward to the completion of the Thornton Hall project review and the recommendations that will be made. The terms of reference given to the group working on the review go beyond simply commenting on whether a prison should be built at that location. The report will inform how we proceed within the financial resources available. If it is published on time, as it should be, I expect and hope the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will have an opportunity to consider and debate it before the House begins its summer recess.