Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 530: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons in prison and the number in each institution; the total number of prisoners not held in single cells or rooms and the number of these in each institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14979/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that on 14 April 2010 there were 4,164 prisoners in custody. The breakdown of the population per prison is listed in the table below:

As the Deputy will appreciate the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts into its custody and do not have the option of refusing committals. It is the case that there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months during which time the total number in custody has increased by 315. This represents over 8% of a rise in the number in custody.

The Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces. Since 1997 in excess of 1,720 new prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick, Portlaoise and Castlerea prisons and at the open centres in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House.

More recently the re-opening of the Separation Unit in Mountjoy provided an additional 50 spaces. Current projects will see a further 200 prison spaces provided in the short term by means of a new block in Wheatfield.

In addition, work is expected to commence in late 2010 on a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise/Midlands prisons complex which will provide 300 prison spaces.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 531: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners, in total and in each institution, who are doubled up; the number of prisoners who share accommodation with more than one other; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14980/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that on 14 April 2010 there were 4,164 prisoners in custody. The breakdown of the population per prison is listed in the table below:

As the Deputy will appreciate the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts into its custody and do not have the option of refusing committals. It is the case that there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months during which time the total number in custody has increased by 315. This represents over 8% of a rise in the number in custody.

The Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces. Since 1997 in excess of 1,720 new prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick, Portlaoise and Castlerea prisons and at the open centres in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House.

More recently the re-opening of the Separation Unit in Mountjoy provided an additional 50 spaces. Current projects will see a further 200 prison spaces provided in the short term by means of a new block in Wheatfield.

In addition, work is expected to commence in late 2010 on a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise/Midlands prisons complex which will provide 300 prison spaces.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 532: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners, in total and in each institution, who do not have over seven hours out of cell time on a normal day; the approximate time such prisoners have out of their cells in the day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14981/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On 15 April, 2010 there were 317 prisoners falling into the category referred to by the Deputy. This represents just under 8% of the prisoner population on that date. The vast majority of these cases are prisoners who require protection and whose regimes have to be restricted for their own safety. There is also a small number of prisoners who are subject to a restricted regime because of medical reasons.

The location of these persons is set out in the following table: -

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners, in total and in each institution, who do not have access to toilet facilities in private at all times; the number of such prisoners who are required to slop out; the number of prisoners required to use normal toilet facilities but in the presence of others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14982/10]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 583: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners here and in each institution that are required to slop out; the number of prisoners who have access to toilet facilities that must be used in the presence of others; the number who have access to toilet facilities that are private at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15315/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 533 and 583 together.

It has not been possible to compile the information sought in the time available. I will communicate further with the Deputies when information is to hand.