Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality following the report by the Prisons Inspector, Judge Michael Reilly, on practices by some staff at St Patrick's Institution, Dublin, the interim measures he will put in place to protect their rights and enable appropriate rehabilitation. [46412/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that I published the Inspector's Report last week. I also published the Irish Prison Service's Action Plan for implementing the Inspector's recommendations. The report raises serious issues and major concerns including weak management, behaviour of some prison staff, the culture in the prison, the inattention to human rights norms, prisoners on protection and prevalence of drugs. The Inspector concluded that there has been a culture in St Patrick’s which resulted in the human rights of some prisoners (children and young adults) being either ignored or violated.

As I informed the House on Wednesday 17 October, neither I nor the Government will tolerate the type of abuse outlined by the Inspector in his report on St Patrick's Institution. Simply put, it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. It is also important not to lose sight of the fact that the Inspector acknowledges in his report that the vast majority of staff in St. Patrick's carry out their duties in a professional manner and the problem lies with a very small minority of staff.

For many years, I had concerns about St Patrick's and believed that it was an inappropriate facility for children. I was instrumental in ensuring that the Programme for Government included a specific commitment to end the practice of sending children there. I visited St Patrick's within two weeks of my appointment and I met with the Inspector at his request in early May last to discuss the situation with him.

An Action Plan addressing all of the Inspector's recommendations was put into place without delay. This included the appointment of a new senior management team which has been tasked with providing clear and decisive leadership to the staff in order that the problems outlined by the Inspector are dealt with quickly and effectively. This team, lead by the new Governor, is liaising closely with the Director General of the Irish Prison Service and the Inspector of Prisons to ensure that each and every one of the Inspector's recommendations are implemented. Concrete measures have already been taken with over 80% of the recommendations being implemented to date.

Indeed in this context, the Irish Prison Service has also undertaken to ensure enhanced prison healthcare procedures are put in place, and records are maintained on the removal and relocation of prisoners. A new dedicated committal unit is in operation, and a new vulnerable persons unit is also being established. Additional security arrangements have been introduced to minimise drugs and contraband entering the prison. Educational facilities will be improved along with the provision of an incentivised regimes programme and an improvement in physical conditions and facilities generally.

The practice of sending 16 year old boys to St Patrick's has already ceased with effect from the 1st May and my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has agreed to examine the feasibility of accommodating some categories of 17 year old boys in Oberstown on a phased basis. The remit of the Ombudsman for Children was extended in July of this year to include St Patrick's Institution. The Government has also sanctioned the provision of necessary funding for a new detention facility at Oberstown, which is due for completion in mid 2014. In the meantime, arrangements are currently being made for a number of care staff from the Children Detention Schools to work on placement in St Patrick's Institution alongside Prison Staff. It is intended that this will take place within the next two months.

In the interim, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has agreed to examine the feasibility of accommodating some categories of 17 year old boys in Oberstown on a phased basis earlier than mid 2014, if possible. Arrangements are also being made for a number of care staff from the Children Detention Schools to work on placement in St Patrick’s Institution alongside Prison Staff. It is intended that this will take place within the next two months. In addition, as I have already mentioned the remit of the Ombudsman for Children was extended in July of this year to include St Patrick’s Institution - something which she has been seeking for a number of years and a request with which previous Governments failed to agree.

A new complaints procedure is also being introduced. This process has recently been completed with the appointment of a panel of 22 external investigators and the new complaints system will be introduced on the 1st of November. I have instructed the Director General of the IPS to direct the new investigators to commence an examination of previous complaints in St. Patrick's Institution, such as those referred to by the Inspector in his report.