Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The challenge is that the tangible incentives the Minister for Justice referred to in her prepared response are gone. Moving out of the progression unit means moving from an environment with no drug use to one with significant issues with drug use, and moving from an environment where education is available to one where educational options are frequently closed, with fewer teachers and fewer subject options. That is the reality of the education provided for the general prison population.

Contrary to what was said, I would argue the rehabilitative supports that are offered are extremely limited. To give one example, the Department estimates 70% of the prison population struggles with addiction issues. In Mountjoy, that translates to about 600 prisoners, but there are only two addiction counsellors in Mountjoy to meet the needs of those 600 prisoners. Likewise, there is significant underprovision of probation officers. I do not agree, therefore, that we provide robust rehabilitative options. As I said, the supports are extremely limited, but if we are trying to invest in people's long-term rehabilitation and prevent crime down the line, we need to invest in those supports.

There are alternatives. There is non-custodial community-based sentencing, a commitment in the programme for Government that is not being progressed, which would be a much better choice than the significant capital expenditure of simply creating more prison spaces, where we are creating the same poor environment that is producing poor outcomes. If we are going to invest in additional prison spaces, we need to look at what is happening across Europe where the RESCALED campaign, to produce smaller prisons with lower numbers in order that services can be offered in a more effective way, is the way forward. We need to invest meaningfully in rehabilitative support services and in the programme for Government commitments to alternatives such as non-custodial sentencing, instead of throwing money at expanding the prison estate.

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