Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the level of recidivism in prisons here. [26334/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is regrettable that accurate figures relating to rates of recidivism in the prisoner population are not available at the present time. Since taking office, however, I have sought to address this deficit through a major research project which is currently being undertaken by the institute of criminology in University College Dublin in co-operation with my Department. It is hoped that the findings will present an accurate picture of recidivism which, in turn, will assist and shape the way we manage prison sentences in the future. I understand that the findings of this research are expected in early 2007.