Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I utterly condemn and express my revulsion at the attack on a prison officer the other day. It was really shocking and I hope he makes a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Nobody should be subjected to assaults or violence in the course of their work. I know it can happen in uniformed services and other places but it does not make it any less horrific or unacceptable and our thoughts are very much with him and his colleagues today.

The Minister for Justice, Deputy Harris, attended the conference of the Prison Officers' Association last week where he outlined our plans to provide additional prison places not because we want to increase the incarceration rate - we do not - but because our population is growing and, therefore, we need new prison places.

Funding for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been increased to €56 million this year from €51 million last year and €42 million five years ago, so every year, more resources have been provided under this Government and previous Governments. Obviously, there will be discussions about next year as well.

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