Written answers

Tuesday, 28 March 2006

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Prison Accommodation

11:00 pm

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 359: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of observation cells in operation in prisons here. [11582/06]

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of padded cells, including all striped cells or unfurnished rooms, in operation. [11583/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.

As the Deputy is aware, I previously gave a commitment to abolish the use of old style padded cells in our prisons and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that significant progress has been made in replacing such cells with the newly designed special observation and close supervision cells. The newly designed special observation and close supervision cells are in operation in the following institutions:

Special Observation Cells Close Supervision Cells
Arbour Hill Prison 1 0
Dóchas Centre 0 3
Cloverhill Prison 2 4
St. Patrick's Institution 1 1
Mountjoy Prison 8 3
Midlands Prison 2 2
Castlerea Prison 1 1
Total 15 14

Cork Prison has two temporary "strip" cells in operation pending the completion of the newly designed special observation cells. Wheatfield Prison has four "strip" cells performing the same function pending the completion of a similar project in that prison. It is expected that the newly designed cells will also be commissioned in Limerick Prison in the near future.

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners who were in solitary confinement for the years 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006. [11584/06]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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There is no provision for solitary confinement in the Irish Prison Service. However, there are two situations in which a prisoner may be removed from the general population. Information relating to the placement of prisoners in the newly designed close supervision and special observation cells are set out in the following table. These figures are composite in nature and include placement in both types of cells. First, while undesirable, it is a matter of practical necessity to put some prisoners in a place of safety within the prison system when they prove difficult to manage in the general prison population or where authorised by a prison doctor for medical observation or for the prisoner's own protection if he or she has suicidal tendencies.

Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to 21/03/06)
Mountjoy Prison 428 401 389 89
Dóchas Centre 185 141 94 24
Cloverhill Prison 76 94 107 123
Wheatfield Prison 85 174 135 92
Cork Prison 133 78 86 13
Castlerea Prison 38 33 39 32
Midlands Prison 19 8 1 0
Arbour Hill Prison 6 18 7 2
St. Patrick's Institution* 178 221 170 47
Total 1,148 1,168 1,028 422
* Figure for St. Patrick's Institution includes usage of "strip" and "padded" cells and an exact figure for use of "padded" cells is not therefore available.

Second, there were a number of other prisoners who were sanctioned by prison governors for serious breaches of prison discipline and who were placed in close confinement for periods of up to three days. The number of occasions where this took place are set out in the following table. Prisoners are never placed in special observation cells for disciplinary reasons.

Year Number
2004 122
2005 66
2006 (to date) 10

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