Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform the number of foreign nationals from outside EU member states who are in prison here; the procedure for dealing with such persons upon their release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45635/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that on 29 November, 2010 the number of foreign nationals from outside EU member States in custody was 211 of which 192 are male and 19 are females. This represents approximately 4% of the overall prison population for this day.

Of the 211 prisoners in custody, 120 are serving sentences, 82 are held on remand/trial and 9 are held on immigration related issues. Officials from the Irish Prison Service and their counterparts in the Repatriation Division of the Department of Justice and Law Reform have an ongoing information exchange whereby the Repatriation Division is made aware of the release dates of convicted EU and Non-EU national prisoners who fall due for release in the following twelve month period. Details of the offences involved are also included, as are the nationalities of the prisoners in question. Based on this information, officials in the Repatriation Division can provide the Irish Prison Service with details on the immigration status of the persons concerned. All decisions to deport non-Irish Nationals from Irish Prisons are made by myself following consultation with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).