Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are talking about performance measures and whether money is being well spent. We cannot measure anything when the data are flawed. It is not good enough to say that the Central Statistics Office, CSO, says things are improving and that is grand. Against the backdrop of the criticisms, reports and the thousand recommendations by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate about improvements that had to be implemented, we still have a scenario in which there are major discrepancies in the reporting of crime, which means we cannot measure anything. Items are not being put on the PULSE system and activities are being consciously downgraded to understate crime levels. We must return to it.

The Minister is aware that the Garda Síochána Inspectorate has commented on the situation. GSOC and the Policing Authority have said they are not adequately equipped legally to do the job the public expects them to do, namely, to be the body of oversight and to deal with complaints. We are putting money into these valid Garda oversight organisations, but they are saying they do not have the legislation to do the job for which they are receiving the money. Where is the legislation to support their work? Otherwise, what is the point? Are we just putting money into a cosmetic exercise of accountability unless we beef up the layer of independence?

The fact that Vote 21 on prisons has not been mentioned anywhere is indicative of the fact that it is the poor relation. People are forgotten when they are sent to prison and we do not spend enough time examining and addressing the vast amount of money we spend on imprisoning people and whether it is successful. In the report and in the mid-year position, the Minister said Vote 21 should be dealing with providing a "safe, secure, humane and rehabilitative custody for people who are sent to prison". The fact that the educational programmes in prisons are appalling and access to drug rehabilitation is, in many instances, non-existent, makes a mockery of the statement. I wonder what measurements are being put in place in technology, particularly regarding P19s, which are complaints by prisoners regarding the prison process. There is no system for computerising them. Legal representatives of prisoners are submitting freedom of information, FOI, requests to try to get information about the complaints their clients have submitted, and the Department and the Prison Service are saying they cannot provide the information given that it is not computerised. At the same time, when a prisoner goes to court, a list can be provided of all their alleged wrongdoings. What level of investment is going into technology regarding P19s?

Prisons are expensive. What is the point in putting somebody in prison if he or she is going to come out and be exactly the same. Deputy Mick Wallace and I had a horrific experience on Friday when we visited Portlaoise Prison and saw the treatment of a clearly troubled young man. It was worse than anything I have ever seen and constitutes a violation of human rights. Five prison officers in riot gear spend all day, every day accompanying the young man as soon as his door is opened, wherever he needs to go. This is a complete and utter breach of medical reports about how he should be treated. It is ridiculous. I imagine five prison officers could be doing something much more constructive. All the young lads told us he would like to develop his education and reintegrate into the prison population. Unless we address it, we will send seriously damaged people back out into society.

Since the departure of Brian Purcell, has a new Secretary General been appointed to the Department? Does the Department not need a Secretary General? Is it a saving that one has not been appointed and can the money be spent somewhere else?