Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The prison recidivism statistics study to which the Deputy refers is a detailed examination of those who were released from custodial prison sentences in 2010 and whether they were subsequently convicted of a further offence up to the end of 2013. The study findings indicate that the recidivism and re-offending rate was 45.1% for the cohort of offenders released in 2010. When compared to the equivalent cohort for the previous year, there is a fall in recidivism, albeit modest, of 2.4%. This follows a 3.5% decrease that was seen for the 2009 cohort from the previous report. I acknowledge that these are modest figures but we are moving in a positive direction. Last year saw the continued successful implementation of the joint Irish Prison Service and Probation Service community return programme and the community support scheme. These are structured, temporary release schemes that provide for supervised community service. I assure Deputy O'Callaghan and the House that I am very conscious of the issues raised and I want to ensure that every effort is made through legislation and otherwise to move towards the reduction of crime, especially in the cohort referred to by the Deputy.

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