Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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201. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of hours the library in each prison is scheduled to open each week; the percentage of scheduled opening times that these libraries were actually open during 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26325/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The number of hours the library in each prison is scheduled to be open is set out in the table under. The libraries for Arbour Hill, Dóchas, Mountjoy, Shelton, St. Patrick's and the Training Unit are open as the demand requires.

* During 2012 the Librarian position in the Midlands prison was vacant.

Libraries in prisons are regarded by prison management as key elements in the process of normalisation and rehabilitation for prisoners. Library services in prisons are mainly provided by Local Authority library personnel deployed to prisons. In some cases, libraries are managed by prison officers or prisoners, with professional librarian oversight. While it is the case that a shortfall in staffing numbers on a particular day can impact negatively on service provision, the Irish Prison Service are actively pursuing the option of having all libraries in prisons managed by long-term, suitably trained prisoners, with professional oversight in order to maximise the service.