Written answers

Thursday, 13 May 2010

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Treatment of Prisoners

5:00 pm

Photo of Lucinda CreightonLucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 72: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the article in a newspaper (details supplied) of Monday, 26 April 2010 regarding conditions in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin; the action he proposes to take on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19647/10]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 78: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns by a retiring member of the Mountjoy visiting committee at conditions in the prison, which they described as appalling; the steps he is taking to deal with these conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19588/10]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 78 together.

As the Deputy is aware Mountjoy Prison is a Victorian prison which is now 160 years old. Redeveloping the existing 20 acre site is neither financially viable nor practical from an operational perspective and this is why I have set out in the clearest possible terms this Government's continued commitment to replacing the Mountjoy Prison complex with modern prison accommodation at Thornton Hall.

The Inspector of Prisons, in his 2008 Annual Report, acknowledged that overcrowding in prisons is an international problem, not just unique to Ireland. Since 1997 in excess of 1,720 new 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, Portlaoise and Castlerea prisons and at the open centres in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House. Current projects will see a further 200 prison spaces provided in the short term by means of a new block in Wheatfield. In addition, we hope to proceed in late 2010 with a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise/Midlands prisons complex which will provide 300 prison spaces in the medium term.

While Mountjoy Prison predominantly comprises single cell accommodation, multiple cell occupancy does exist, particularly in the base area of the prison and some other areas. The Governor of the prison has recently re-issued an order concerning the use of holding cells, the shower room and other areas of the Base area of the prison instructing staff that under no circumstances should these locations be used for the purpose of overnight accommodation. Instead prisoners should be placed in the normal cellular accommodation on the landings, which as I have already stated, are predominantly single cell accommodation at present.

The primary role of the Prison Service is the provision of safe and secure custody for prisoners. The need, therefore, for prisoners who request protection to be accommodated in separate areas from other identified persons from whom they may be at risk is of primary importance. Efforts are made on a continuous basis to transfer protection prisoners out of Mountjoy Prison to other locations where they would not require such a restricted regime, e.g. protection landings in Wheatfield or the Midlands Prisons or to another prison where they would not require protection.

In the article a certain proportion of the overcrowding is attributed to the incarceration of persons for failure to pay fines. In this regard I must remind the Deputies that the Prison Service is obliged to take in all committals sent there by the courts. I can also advise that the proportion of persons in custody for non-payment of fines at any time is a minute fraction of the overall prisoner population. To illustrate this point 0.2% of the prison population on 10 May 2010 fell into this category. It is not a significant contributor to prison overcrowding. I expect the number of committals for non-payment of fines to fall substantially once the Fines Bill 2009 has been enacted and brought into force.

All prisoners are medically assessed on committal to prison. This includes a mental health assessment which can be employed to develop an individual care plan. The Central Mental Hospital (CMH) provides an in-reach mental health service in Mountjoy amongst other prisons. Where clinically indicated a prisoner is referred to a forensic clinician who subject to his/her findings may make certain recommendations to the Governor for the care of a prisoner. If the professional opinion is that a prisoner requires access to an admission bed in the CMH, this is arranged at the earliest opportunity subject to the status of the waiting list for beds in that institution. The waiting list for admission to the CMH is reviewed weekly by CMH clinical personnel on the basis of reports following assessments.

It must be acknowledged that the prevalence of mental illness among the prison population is significantly higher than among people of a similar age and gender in the general population. Taking that into account and the increasing prisoner population, the Governor will at all times take such measures as are necessary based on clinical recommendations subject to the constraints of custodial environment. Prisoner care and rehabilitation involves significant multi-dimensional input by a diverse range of general and specialist services provided by the Irish Prison Service and in-reaching statutory and non-statutory services. Among the various services that are provided by the Irish Prison Service are the education, library, work and training, psychology and spiritual services. The impact of the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the Public Service and of financial cut-backs can require prioritisation of activities that are more cost effective and postponement and review of certain projects. Across the prison estate, the emphasis will be on maintenance of high quality programmes for the greatest number of prisoners.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.