Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the population of St. Patrick's Institution, in tabular format, stating on an annual basis for the period 2002 to 2008, the age profile, the average period of detention and the percentage of population in each age profile that attend formal education classes; the percentage in each age profile that attend additional optional education classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9386/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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St. Patrick's Institution is a closed, medium security place of detention for males aged 16 to 21 years of age, serving sentences up to life. It contains a special unit for 16 and 17 year olds, however in the longer term the Irish Youth justice Service will take responsibility for the detention facilities for all boys under 18 years of age.

I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the average population of St. Patrick's Institution on an annual basis for the period 2002 to 2008 is as follows:

I am further informed that the average period of prisoner detention in St. Patrick's Institution is not available for the years 2002 to 2008. The collation of the information requested would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. However, the Irish Prison Service Annual Reports provide a breakdown in relation to sentence length by age of offender. In 2007, the breakdown is as follows: