Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 620: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the total prison population; the number of prisoners granted temporary release for Christmas 2010; the amount of those prisoners who cannot be accounted for after the Christmas break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1799/11]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that on the 10 January, 2011 there were 4,369 prisoners in custody as compared to a bed capacity of 4,430. This represents an occupancy level of 99%. I can also inform the Deputy that 134 prisoners were granted varying periods of temporary release for Christmas 2010 under the Criminal Justice Act 1960. This figure represented approximately 2.5% of the prisoner population. To date only one prisoner has failed to return to custody. The Gardaí have been notified that this prisoner is now unlawfully at large, in accordance with standard procedures, and are actively seeking his return to custody. Of the prisoners released, approximately 54% of the prisoners were serving their sentences in our lower security institutions: the Training Unit Semi-Open Prison; Loughan House and Shelton Abbey Open Centres.

The prisoners granted temporary release were nearing the end of their sentences and the overriding concern when considering the applications was the safety of the public. In addition to compassionate and humane considerations, other criteria taken into account included the nature and gravity of the offence, length of sentence served to date, prior record on temporary release, behaviour while in custody and previous criminal history. The periods of release varied from a few hours (in some cases accompanied by another responsible person) up to 7 nights. All releases were subject to stringent conditions.