Ms Catherine Maher:

I agree with Ms Grogan that prisoners are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and their experience will depend on individual circumstances. Discharges are both planned and unplanned. Where a discharge is planned, the former prisoner will have a better chance of having discharge letters and so forth arranged and it is more likely the community welfare officer will be on board. Where a discharge is unplanned, the position is much more chaotic as it requires a crisis response from us as we try to make arrangements with the community welfare officer. In our experience, our relationships with community welfare officers who know we work with prisoners and services becomes a factor. They will work with us by recognising we are supporting somebody. This is the reason we are able to advocate successfully on behalf of people and enable them to obtain rent supplement.

In the majority of cases, the former prisoners in question will seek to access private rented accommodation or accommodation provided by housing associations such as Focus Ireland because local authorities do not have one bedroom properties for single males.

Where appropriate supports are made available, individuals may be able to reintegrate in their families. Again, this depends to a great extent on whether the prisoner's release is planned or unplanned. In the case of the former, we can engage with the family and support reintegration, whereas in the latter case, the position can be more chaotic and emergency accommodation must be found on a short-term basis to address the issue.