Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have the exact percentage but there has been an increase of over 60% in video links being used between the prisons and the Courts Service. I will get the exact percentage, but it is over 60%.

As the Deputy rightly says, it reduces the need for prison staff to have to transfer but also for gardaí to have to be physically present in the courts. As the use of vehicles reduces this, it is something we would like to see continue. While these measures have been introduced because of Covid, there is a very obvious benefit to it and we would like to see that continue.

In regard to vehicles, this is something the Irish Prison Service is looking at and if it makes a recommendation or a request on that basis, it is something we will look at in the same way we would look at such a request from the Garda or in regard to any other additional requirements.

In regard to the Inspector of Prisons, I want to outline that, since 2014, quite a number of reports have been undertaken, including 82 reports into deaths in custody, two inspection reports in regard to Loughan House - one in 2014 and one on the training unit in 2017 - seven thematic reports, functional reports and two special investigation reports. Given the small size of the office, a huge amount of work has been done and, obviously, with the bigger office, I would anticipate that even more work can be done.

There was an option for the inspector to carry out investigations herself, based on issues that are brought to her attention. There is also a provision within her remit for me, as Minister, to ask her to investigate something specifically and, as referred to recently, terms of reference were set out in regard to a specific investigation. It is important that I have that remit, as Minister, where there is a concern, to be able to ask that a particular investigation can be carried out. It is also important that, as an independent body, the inspector and her team can carry out an investigation on foot of a request from prisoners or prison officers.

In terms of a separate prisons ombudsman, that is not something I have had conversations about. That is not to say I could not or would not, but it has not been brought to my attention.