Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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406. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the recent examination of the feasibility of Wi-Fi internet, wireless telecommunications systems and communications infrastructure in a prison environment by the Irish Prison Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32887/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, an online notice was recently posted which outlined that the Irish Prison Service intends to examine the feasibility of using Wi-Fi in a prison environment. The purpose of this trial, which will be conducted in a non-live environment, is to ascertain if Wi-Fi may represent a suitable alternative to wired cabling, which is expensive and time consuming to deploy.

This investigation will examine technical issues surrounding the use of Wi-Fi in a prison, including especially whether the signal could be restricted to meet the security requirements of the Irish Prison Service. In particular, there could be no question of Wi-Fi being used to give prisoners open access to the internet. I am advised that this is a feasibility study only, and no decision has been made on the future deployment of Wi-Fi in prisons.