Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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527. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the additional measures in place to protect those in prison from Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31209/20]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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528. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Irish prisoners that have tested positive for Covid-19 since the beginning of the crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31210/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy that to date only four prisoners have tested positive for Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. Each positive case was a recently committed prisoner from the community and none of the cases have been acquired within the prison environment.

I am advised that the Irish Prison Service has put in place an extensive range of measures to prevent Covid-19 transmission within prisons. The Director General of the Irish Prison Service at an early stage established an Emergency Response Planning Team (“ERPT”) consisting of senior staff with skills and experience in areas including operational; healthcare; and infection control. The ERPT was tasked with identifying and issuing instruction for any necessary actions with the aim of:

- Blocking the spread of Covid-19 in a prison setting;

- Early detection of any possible case of Covid-19 in a prisoner or staff member; and

- Prevention of the spread of Covid-19, should a case be confirmed.

The measures which have been introduced, guided by the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team and consistent with the prison specific guidance for the management of Covid-19 issued by the World Health Organisation and guidance of the Council of Europe, include:

- The introduction of a basic health check, including taking of temperatures for all persons, including staff, entering prisons since 29 March;

- The ongoing review of the provision of physical family visits, replaced by the introduction of video visits in line with local county restrictions on movement;

- In conjunction with the HSE, facilitating the testing of all new committals to the prisons at an early stage, which will allow for the prisoner to exit quarantine and enter the general population at an earlier stage, provided test results are negative;

- Isolation of suspected case or prisoner with symptoms to prevent the risk of transmission of infection;

- The provision of cocooned accommodation for vulnerable prisoners including all prisoners aged 70 years or more or those that are deemed medically vulnerable;

- Comprehensive training for IPS staff and the provision of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) across the prison estate;

- Conducting of risk assessments and putting in additional controls where identified, such as the mandatory wearing of surgical masks for staff in areas which have been highlighted as locations where social distancing is difficult or cannot be maintained;

- A number of Standard Operating Procedures in place for the distribution of PPE, as well as the donning and doffing of PPE and Infection Control measures which are kept under consent review;

- Strong communication with staff and prisoners, including two prison newsletters published weekly and regular Covid-19 information leaflets for prisoners and newsletters for staff regarding actions taken; and

- Establishment of a robust contract tracing model which has been acknowledged by the World Health Organisation as best practice.

The successful strategy employed by the Irish Prison Service to control the risks arising during this pandemic has been founded on detailed contingency planning providing for flexibility and a rapid response to continually evolving risks as well as the co-operation and understanding of all concerned, including both staff and prisoners.

I understand that the Service continues to manage the risks and challenges faced in a prison context during the Covid-19 pandemic in line with public health guidelines. In doing so, it maintains a close working relationship with my Department, relevant criminal justice authorities, the National Public Health Emergency Team and the HSE. The Service has a Prison Framework for Restrictive Measures of activities and regimes which is in line with the levels 1 to 5 measures under the National Framework for living with COVID 19 published by the Government last month.

The ERPT is continually updating contingency plans. These plans are, by their nature, highly operational and are subject to change given the multiple scenarios that are possible. The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with all relevant stakeholders, in alignment with public health advice in the management of the response to the pandemic.

The Irish Prison Service has assured me that it is at all times cognisant of the impact of its decisions on people in custody. This impact is taken into account at all times, including at every stage of the planning process and the implementing of actions necessary to control and mitigate against the risk of Covid-19 in the prison environment.