Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Dowd for raising this issue. We need a particular approach for women prisoners, and members have mentioned Dóchas and the need to find a new site. Deputy O'Dowd was speaking primarily about aftercare for women and an effective response for them. As he said, in March last year, a women's strategy, entitled An Effective Response to Women Who Offend, set out how the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service would work together with other voluntary groups to develop the service. There is a new facility in Finglas which takes a number of women when they leave prison. This facility was developed as a result of the focus of the strategy. I can forward the details of that facility to the Deputy.