Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to deal with the increasing problem of violence in prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40284/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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While the prison regime is designed to limit the scope for acts of violence, it is simply impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of such acts in prisons holding a high proportion of violent offenders without introducing a "lock-down" regime that would be unacceptable in human rights terms.

The growth of organised criminal gangs outside prison has had obvious consequences within the prison system itself. The manner in which these groups operate on the outside is now, in fact, being mirrored on the inside and presents a significant challenge to the Irish Prison Service. I am fully conscious of the Irish Prison Service's difficult task in providing safe and secure custody for those placed into custody. This is one of the main reasons for the introduction of recent security initiatives including airport style security screening including x-ray machines and scanning equipment, the establishment of Operational Support Units dedicated to and developing expertise in searching and gathering intelligence and targeting specific security problem areas, the establishment of a Drug Detection Dog Service within the Irish Prison Service, the segregation of a number of serious drug and criminal gang members in a high security unit in Cloverhill Prison and the use of phone detectors and phased installation of telephone blocking technology.

I can also advise the Deputy that prison management, in order to ensure the safety of prisoners, immediately separate prisoners seeking protection from the general prison population or from specific prisoners identified as presenting a threat.

It is at the committal stage that the majority of prisoners seek protection. External influences imported to the prison on committal include gang rivalry, drug debts and perceived co-operation with the Gardaí. On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and based on the information available, a decision is made as to where a particular prisoner will be accommodated.

On occasion, a prisoner may be placed on protection by the Irish Prison Service. From time to time intelligence becomes available to the Irish Prison Service which dictates that it may be prudent for particular individuals to be put on protection, for that individual's own safety. This is not, however, a frequent occurrence.

I am pleased to be able to advise the Deputy that recent figures indicate that the incidents of violence in our prisons has decreased significantly since the introduction of the new security measures.