Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 553: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to introduce evidence based, risk assessments designed for sex offenders which could be put to the Court at sentencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29862/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Probation Service of my Department carries out formal risk assessments on offenders using validated risk assessment instruments. This informs both the level of supervision and the targets for intervention during supervision. The Probation Service is in the process of introducing a system for the assessment of sex offenders which will facilitate an all-island approach to this area. This is a commitment under the Inter Governmental Agreement (through the Public Protection Advisory Committee).

One hundred and twenty Probation Officers have successfully completed the first phase of a two stage training process. The second phase of training is scheduled for the Autumn. The new system will be piloted nationally for a twelve month period and it is anticipated that during the pilot phase this system will be used for pre-sanction reports to Court.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 554: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the risk assessments sex offenders undergo in prison to identify the type of rehabilitation programmes suitable for the person aimed at ensuring they do not reoffend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29863/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 555: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the range and availability of therapeutic interventions currently available in prison for sex offenders; the number of prisoners currently engaging in these interventions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29864/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 556: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people currently in prison for sex offences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29865/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 557: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date on which he will open the centre for sex offenders in Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin; the interventions which will be available there; the number of offenders who will be accommodated there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29866/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 558: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date on which he will open the two satellite treatment centres for sex offenders at the Midlands and Wheatfield Prisons; the interventions which will be available there; the number of offenders who will be accommodated there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29867/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 559: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when he will establish a sex offender unit in the Prison Service headquarters; if this unit will liaise with criminal justice agencies in the north of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29868/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 to 559, inclusive, together.

On 7 July 2009 there were 324 prisoners in custody under sentence for offences of a sexual nature. Of these, 104 were in custody in the Midlands Prison, 99 in Arbour Hill Prison and 89 in Wheatfield Prison.

As the Deputy will be aware, on 22 April 2009 I formally announced a new policy on the management of sex offenders in prison which commenced earlier this year. The new policy document is available on the website of the Irish Prison Service (www.irishprisons.ie).

The policy is aimed at bringing about changes in offenders' lives that reduce risk of re-offending and enhance public protection. It forms an integral part of the wider range of interventions by criminal justice and community-based agencies. Prison-based therapeutic interventions with convicted sex offenders comprise notably

one-to-one interventions,

offence-related group interventions,

approved in-reach services and

interventions available to prisoners generally.

Individual therapeutic work with sex offenders serves a number of functions, including support for offenders in their early commitment to change and integration and extension of progress made in group work. It also has a key role in addressing the risks and needs of offenders who are unable to undertake group programmes. Individual counselling is provided in all prisons that accommodate sex offenders by the Psychology Service of the Irish Prison Service and by the Probation Service.

The aforementioned new programme of group interventions which commenced in January 2009, replaced the Sex Offender Programme initiated in 1994 and which concluded last year (2008). The programme, "Building Better Lives", is available in Arbour Hill Prison. It comprises three modules:

exploratory open groups ("Exploring Better Lives"),

practice open groups ("Practising Better Lives"), and

maintenance groups ("Maintaining Better Lives").

The programme allows more responsive and flexible delivery to a greater number of offenders. The interventions take greater account of individual risk, needs and capacity, with higher risk offenders, for example, spending longer on offence-based work where necessary.

Three exploratory, two practice and two-to-three maintenance groups are envisaged per annum. When fully operational this will allow for interventions to take place with up to 60 offenders. To date, six offenders have completed the first module and another eight offenders are currently doing so. The second module or practice group has commenced for those offenders who have completed the first module.

The Psychology Service of the Irish Prison Service carries out a comprehensive strengths, needs and risk assessment with each offender prior to their participation. This ensures that the programme can be tailored to meet their individual needs. Ongoing evaluation allows for updated assessment of individual progress and supports resettlement planning.

The Irish Prison Service also recognises the potential for community-based services to provide interventions with this group of offenders and is committed to exploring the potential of community and voluntary groups to engage with sex offenders within the prison environment. Their participation will be within the framework described above and require commitments such as liaising with and reporting to the Irish Prison Service. Interventions commencing in 2009 will include motivational enhancement groups provided by the Granada Institute in the Midlands and Wheatfield prisons and interventions with young sex offenders provided by the Northside Inter-Agency Project (NIAP) in St Patrick's Institution. These interventions will be provided with financial support from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Sex offenders continue to benefit from other group programmes not specifically designed for sex offenders but addressing their needs, including stress management, anger management and cognitive skills training, as well as interventions by visiting psychiatrists.

Arbour Hill Prison has been established as the National Centre with a full range of interventions and an increase in the number of sex offenders accommodated in the prison. Offenders will be transferred into and out of the National Centre in accordance with sentence planning, demand for interventions and security imperatives. A number of transfers have already taken place. The Midlands and Wheatfield Prisons have been designated as Satellite Centres where a narrower range of interventions are available. A Sex Offender Unit has been established in the Prison Service Headquarters to monitor sentence planning and liaise with other criminal justice agencies, including criminal justice agencies in Northern Ireland.

In tandem with the work done under the auspices of the Irish Prison Service I would also like to advise that the Probation Service engages with sex offenders in individual work throughout the course of their sentence. This work primarily focuses on reducing the risk posed by the individual following release and also child protection issues which may arise. To this end the work of the Probation Service frequently becomes more intensive in the pre release phase. At this point the risk level of an offender is assessed and criminogenic targets are identified. Practical issues such as accommodation, employment, social support and reintegration are combined with a determination of need for therapeutic intervention in the post release phase. This is made available through the joint delivery, with the Granada Institute, of the community based Lighthouse Programmes in Dublin and Cork.