Written answers

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Prison Accommodation

10:00 pm

Photo of Arthur MorganArthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way he will respond to the latest visiting committee report on Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, which reportedly found that overcrowding is so bad that conditions are degrading, rival gang members cannot be segregated and drugs and mobile phones continue to be smuggled in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14195/09]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has received the report from the Mountjoy Prison Visiting Committee for the year 2008. That report has been translated in accordance with the provisions of the Official Languages Act, 2003 and I am arranging to have it published as soon as possible.

I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months, where we have seen dramatic increases in the number of sentenced prisoners and a trend towards longer sentences. What is clear is that there is a trend of increased committals from the courts. Figures show, over the past 12 months, the number in custody in Mountjoy has increased by 15%.

As the Deputy will appreciate the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts. I acknowledge that our prisons are operating in excess of their bed capacity at this time. Equally it is also clear that the continuation of the current capital programme is necessary if overcrowding is not to become a problem going forward.

Since 1997 in excess of 1,300 prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick Prison.

However, given the serious pressure that the Prison Service has been experiencing during the last 12-18 months, in 2008 it became necessary to introduce additional contingency accommodation through the doubling up of cells in Mountjoy, Wheatfield, Cloverhill, Midlands and Arbour Hill Prisons and in the Training Unit. This provided 180 temporary bed spaces. In addition, in 2008, 70 new prison spaces were introduced at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House Open Centres.

As the pressure shows no sign of abating the Irish Prison Service recently decided to increase their capacities through the doubling up of further cells, thus creating 200 additional temporary bed spaces which will come on stream shortly.

Furthermore, building projects in Castlerea, Wheatfield and Portlaoise Prisons are due to be completed in the coming months. This will create an additional 400 extra spaces which will temporarily alleviate the situation pending the construction of new prisons at Thornton Hall, Co. Dublin and Kilworth, Co. Cork.

I am fully conscious of the Irish Prison Service's responsibility to provide safe and secure custody for those placed into custody. This is one of the main reasons for the introduction of recent security initiatives to combat contraband items being trafficked into prisons, one of the major challenges facing prisons worldwide. These include:

• airport style security screening using 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 Unit within the Irish Prison Service,

• the installation of mobile phone blocking technology, and

• the segregation of a number of serious drug and criminal gang members in a high security unit in Cloverhill Prison.

Airport style scanners and x-ray machines are now in operation at the entrances to all the relevant closed prisons. Cell and area searches for contraband such as mobile phones take place in all prisons on a daily basis. These include random, targeted and intelligence led searches. These searches have been particularly effective and local intelligence indicates that the availability of mobile phones has decreased across the prison system. No visitors are permitted to enter prisons while in possession of a mobile phone.

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 cooperation 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.

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