Written answers

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Department of Justice and Equality

Prison Visiting Committees Issues

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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206. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will outline the specific plans to address concerns expressed in the prison visitors committee report on overcrowding and staffing shortages at Castlerea Prison, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23134/13]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I published the Castlerea Prison Visiting Committee Report on 7th May 2013. I would like to thank the Visiting Committee for their Report. The observation that Castlerea prison is a well run prison with professional staff and a high quality of medical care provided to prisoners is very encouraging. The Committee also acknowledged the good work done in the school as well as the work of the prison Chaplain.

I should point out that there is no reference to overcrowding in the Castlerea Visiting Committee Report for 2012. The average number in custody in Castlerea Prison in 2012 was 361, against a bed capacity of 351. This represents an average occupancy level of 102.8% and needs to be viewed in the context of the levels of overcrowding being experienced in prisons such as Mountjoy, Cork, Limerick and the Dóchas Centre. Accordingly, the priority for the Irish Prison Service is to reducing the chronic overcrowding in Mountjoy, Cork, Limerick Prisons and the Dóchas Centre in the coming year.

In relation to staff shortages, I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a new staffing structure and rosters were fully implemented in Castlerea Prison in November 2012 under the implementation of the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2010 -2014 or the Transformation Programme as it is known. The new agreed staffing number for Castlerea is 211. As at 4 May 2013 there were 208 staff assigned to Castlerea which is only 3 below the authorised numbers and the Prison Service is awaiting a work training competition which should fill the vacant posts.

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