Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have seen a growing trend of assaults inside prisons. There has been a 46% increase in assaults on prison officers and a 52% increase in assaults on prisoners by prisoners. There have also been revelations regarding prison conditions and overcrowding with more than 200 prisoners sleeping on mattresses.

In a similar vein, last August, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions wrote to the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform telling him that its resources were stretched, that there was significant underfunding in attempting to deal with the increasing caseload, including financial corruption cases, and that there was a danger that prosecutions could be compromised. Does the Taoiseach accept that after a decade's worth of Fine Gael justice Ministers, the responsibility lies with his party? What does he propose to do about it?

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