Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners who have escaped or absconded from prisons here in each of the past ten years; the number who were serving sentences for serious crimes; if he is satisfied with the effort made to locate them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8980/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that the statistics as requested by the Deputy for the last 10 years are as follows:

The compilation of statistics relating to all offences for which prisoners have been convicted in the context of their current sentences or previous ones, if applicable, on an individual prisoner basis, would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort to prepare and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.

I can inform the Deputy that there were 71 persons listed as being unlawfully at large on 4 February, 2008 having absconded from an open centre since 1998. I can also advise that there were 2 persons listed as being at large having absconded while being supervised on an external work party and a further 4 prisoners who absconded while on a supervised outing with a staff member such as a chaplain, again each case post dates 1998. In addition there are 3 persons at large having escaped from the custody of prison officers since 1998.

In most cases of absconsion, the offender is very much at the lower end of the risk to the public spectrum. An Garda Síochána is in regular contact with the Irish Prison Service in relation to a range of operational issues, including prisoners who have escaped or absconded. The Gardaí are informed where prisoners are unlawfully at large and have the power to detain, arrest, and return such persons to prison.