Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners on temporary release from Mountjoy Women's Prison Dublin as a result of overcrowding; the steps being taken to deal with the overcrowding at the prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46737/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that there were 61 female prisoners on temporary release from Mountjoy Prison on 15 December 2008. The reasons for the temporary releases varied and should not all be directly attributed to overcrowding.

It has consistently been acknowledged that there has been an overcrowding problem in the Dóchas Centre since its opening, even with the benefit of an additional 20 spaces provided in the final phase of its construction.

In order to deal with the situation, it has been necessary to convert some rooms for use as sleeping accommodation. The Prison Service will continue to closely monitor the situation.

Social and demographic trends indicate that we will inevitably continue to experience an increasing level of women prisoners in our prison system in the future. It is the Government's intention, therefore, to include an expanded version of the Dóchas Centre in the plans to move the entire Mountjoy Prison Complex to a green-field site in the greater Dublin area.