Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners transferred from Cork Prison to Shelton Abbey in the past six months; the number of those prisoners subsequently approved for early release and their average length of stay in Shelton Abbey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20470/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed that a total of 77 prisoners transferred from Cork Prison to Shelton Abbey during the time period from 17 December, 2007 to 19 May, 2008. The prisoners concerned were deemed suitable for transfer to an open centre having, in each case, taken into account a wide range of factors including the nature of their offence, length of sentence, engagement with the therapeutic services and behaviour while in custody. I can also advise the Deputy that the capacity of Shelton Abbey increased by 50% recently following the completion of a new accommodation block.

The aims and objectives of open centres such as Shelton Abbey is to provide a place of detention aimed at the rehabilitation of offenders through education and training linked with a regime which encourages a sense of personal responsibility and self respect in order to assist in them leading law-abiding lives on their return to the community. The profile of open centres generally includes either low risk offenders who are serving short sentences for minor offences or offenders nearing the end of longer sentences whose transfers have been approved as part of a sentence management programme. It is the case that, in view of their status as lower security prisoners, many of the persons transferred to open centres do benefit from release in advance of their remission dates but I do not have the exact details sought by the Deputy immediately available to me.