Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of occasions on which prisoners were locked in their cells for extended periods because of staff shortages in each prison in the State during each of the past three years; the number of prisoners concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13857/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that on one occasion, Saturday 25 June 2011, 70 remand prisoners in Castlerea prison were not unlocked for their morning recreation due to staff shortages in the prison that day. This lasted for a period of two and half hours. They were unlocked earlier that morning for breakfast and returned to their cells after this. There were no incidents during this period of lockdown.