Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

Yes, but it is a welcome one. Given that we are spending on average €91,700 for a year's incarceration of a prisoner, Deputy Rabbitte is right to raise this issue. I assure him that the illegal possession and usage of mobile telephones to further criminal careers from within prison walls is being vigorously tackled. There have been significant numbers of confiscations recently. In addition, there are plans within the Department to seek out technological solutions that will effectively block mobile telephone calls from being made into or out of prisons in this fashion. This is a matter of great concern to us and action is being taken to deal with it. We hope to see a yield in terms of results in the not too distant future.

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