Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her address. I apologise for being late; I was delayed in the Dáil. On the prison Vote, last September an RTE television programme highlighted a serious deficiency in services for female prisoners who are leaving secure units. There is really nowhere for them to go. In response to a parliamentary question in September, the Minister said the Department and local authorities had identified a location for a specific step-down facility to assist women.

There is a significant issue, particularly in light of the fact that women made up 15% of prisoners in 2012 and 18% in 2013, and in light of the fact that most female prisoners are poorly educated and often have drug problems. Also, imprisonment can have a harsh impact on mothers of families, who are often imprisoned for minor offences. These women may be imprisoned for offences that are not trivial, but the women are not a threat to society in terms of violence. What progress has been made on that facility? Does the Minister agree that in March last year this area was identified as a key area for improved facilities and investment by the prison authorities and the Probation Service?