Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and his staff for the presentation. In the context of the total budget overrun, the Minister of State referred to "staffing pressures linked to increased prisoner numbers and escort requirements to courts and hospitals." It is one of the primary reasons for that. Some advances were made during the lockdown in Covid in having technology to be able to have fewer of these transfers to courts for prisoners, particularly when they are for short periods. Is there an emphasis on ensuring that that technology is in place in all our prisons to make sure that is done? Is that part of the capital programme, as the Minister of State looks forward to the future, or how much distance have we to go in respect of that?