Results 17,801-17,820 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Sentencing Committee was established by the Courts Service Board and is chaired by the Chief Justice. The Committee oversaw the development of a Sentencing Information website, a pilot initiative designed to gather information about the range of sentences and other penalties that have been imposed for particular types of offences across court jurisdictions....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of persons under 18 years of age in Wheatfield place of detention on 28 February 2017 is 4.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Justice Strategy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 131 together. As the Deputy will be aware from answers to similar previous questions in 2016, it is stated in the Programme for Government that the Government supports, inter alia, the expansion of Garda Youth Diversion Programmes for young people promoting restorative justice. This commitment follows on from the recommendation of the Penal Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Youth Justice Strategy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy is probably aware, Transformational Goal 5 of 'Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, the national policy framework for children and young people 2014 - 2020', is concerned with supporting effective transitions. As such it makes reference to children and young people experiencing transitions in a range of contexts. These include children in transition from living at home to living...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Community Return Programme is an incentivised early release scheme co-managed by the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service. It commenced in October 2011 and is now operational in every county and from every prison in the State. The Programme has been supported by the reallocation of resources and key personnel from within both services. The Programme targets well behaved...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the statistics being sought are not readily available. The information is currently being collated and I will respond to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Medical Service (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that on foot of the recommendations of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture following its visit of September 2014, the Irish Prison Service has been engaged with the Department of Health in relation to a fundamental review of healthcare in prisons and the provision of healthcare services in prisons generally. It has confirmed that the Terms of Reference for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it does not record data on the aggregate number of persons in its custody who are identified as having serious mental health conditions owing to the requirement that it maintain the confidentiality of the medical records of the persons in its custody. I am advised that the National Forensic Mental Health Service does compile detailed data on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that in-reach mental health services are available in the Dublin and Portlaoise prisons, and Castlerea prison, through collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS) to provide forensic mental health sessions weekly in these prisons. I have listed below the personnel employed by the HSE...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Medical Service (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that persons in custody who require residential mental health treatment can be admitted to the Central Mental Hospital following assessment by the National Forensic Mental Health Service on the basis of assessed clinical need. The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that it has access to a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Drug Treatment Services (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I have been advised by the Irish Prison Service that any prisoner who enters the custody of the Irish Prison Service while presenting with addiction issues has access to addiction services, and is actively encouraged to engage with those services. The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that the treatments available are based on the principles of best practice, and are similar to those...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that figures in relation to cell occupancy levels are published on a quarterly basis on their website . The latest cell accommodation census was produced in January this year and showed that on 18 January 2017 there was 3,643 prisoners in custody and 2,007 (approximately 55%) had access to single cells. It is clear, given the current number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that there are currently no plans to commit to a daily minimum of 12 hours out of cell activity for prisoners. I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to persons in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Accommodation Standards (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I can advise the Deputy that with the construction of a new prison in Cork, which opened on 12 February 2016, and the refurbishment of Mountjoy prison, 98.7% of prisoners now have access to in-cell sanitation. On 27 June 2016, I launched the Irish Prison Service’s Capital Strategy 2016-2021. This ambitious programme will see the complete replacement of the outdated accommodation in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Strategies (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the implementation of the Families and Imprisonment Strategy is progressing as planned. The Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan sets out the commitment of the Irish Prison Service to strengthen family supports to facilitate on-going contact with prisoners while in custody and their reintegration post release, with appropriate supports and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoners Temporary Release (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I wish to advise the Deputy that the legislation governing the powers of the Minister to grant temporary release is provided for in section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1960 as substituted by section 1 of the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003 and as amended by section 110 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which grants the Minister for Justice the power to make rules...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the service is committed to managing custodial sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoners in their endeavouring to live law abiding and purposeful lives as valued members of society. In order to achieve this aim the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service have a multi-agency approach involving considerable resources devoted...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service Data (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following table sets out the Probation Service's budget and the number of offenders that it dealt with in the community for the years 2011 to 2017. Year Budget Provision €000 Number of offenders dealt with in the community 2017 €46,245 --- 2016 €38,963 14,900* 2015 €38,326 14,927 2014 €37,295 15,134 2013 €38,119 15,984 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Second National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence contains a range of legislative and administrative actions aimed at combatting domestic and sexual violence and its implementation is a priority for my Department. The strategy is a whole of Government approach, involving seven Government Departments and a number of State bodies, including Tusla and An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (28 Feb 2017)

Frances Fitzgerald: A second Sexual Assault and Violence in Ireland study (SAVI 2) would show the prevalence of and attitudes to sexual violence and elucidate how the experience has changed since SAVI 1. The overall cost of a report is likely to be in the order of €1 million over three years. A formal proposal submitted by the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre recognised that, given the significant budget,...