Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reform parole and temporary release processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35648/11]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will implement a policy of structured release of non-violent, low risk offenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35653/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 416 together.

The Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003 provides that sentenced prisoners may be approved temporary release. This discretionary instrument assists in gradually preparing suitable offenders for release and in administering short sentences, and is an incentive to well-behaved prisoners.

Temporary release arrangements operate similarly to a system of parole, which is a feature of prison systems worldwide. They are an important vehicle for re-integrating an offender into the community in a planned way. The generally accepted view is that the risk to the community is reduced by planned re-integration of offenders compared with their return to the community on the completion of their full sentence. The Irish Prison Service has also judiciously used temporary release as a means of reducing numbers in times of serious overcrowding. Each case is examined on its own merits and the safety of the public is paramount when decisions are made. In addition, all releases are subject to conditions, which in the vast majority of cases include a requirement to report on a regular basis to the offender's Garda Station. Of course, any offender who breaches his or her conditions may be arrested and returned to prison immediately by the Gardaí.

A number of key recommendations contained in the Thornton Hall Review Group Report are receiving priority attention in my Department and many are in the process of being implemented most notably the introduction of an incentivised scheme for earned temporary release under which offenders who pose no threat to the community are offered early temporary release in return for supervised community service. In this regard, a six month pilot project commenced in October 2011 in which it is envisaged that a total of 130 prisoners will participate. To date, 31 prisoners have been released under the scheme.