Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

On Tuesday, 29 November 2011, there were 127 prisoners in custody in the Dóchas Centre against a bed capacity of 105. Since it opened in 1999, it has consistently had the highest level of overcrowding in the Irish prison system. For that reason measures were taken to expand its capacity.

Work commenced in April 2011 on the conversion of an administrative building on the Dóchas Centre site into an accommodation block to provide an additional 70 spaces. The building work has now been completed and it is expected that the spaces will be fully operational in early 2012.

Women account for less than 4% of the prison population. A review of the figures for October 2011 show an average of 155 female prisoners in custody in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick Prison. Thirty-five of these women were on remand by the courts, a matter which falls wholly within the power of the Judiciary. A further 85 women were serving sentences of one year or more for offences including a number serving life sentences for murder.

It is my policy to maximise the non-custodial options for those found to have committed offences but only where a significant custodial sentence is not warranted. This applies equally to men and women. However, the remit of my Department is limited to offenders and we cannot duplicate or replace the supports that should be available to all in need of care.

The Probation of Offenders Act allows courts to discharge an offender subject to conditions rather than imposing a custodial sanction. Conditions in such orders might include a requirement to be subject to supervision by the Probation Service and to participate in an appropriate treatment or rehabilitation course. The Probation Service in co-operation with 48 community based organisations are currently spending in the region of €10 million providing services to adult offenders in the community some of which include residential courses. Temporary release also allows suitable prisoners to be released from prison subject to conditions to participate in appropriate programmes.

I should say that in line with the recommendations in the Report of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group, I am establishing a group to carry out a strategic review of penal policy which will include specifically the issue of female prisoners.

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