Written answers
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Department of Justice and Equality
Prisoner Releases
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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178. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who have participated in community return schemes from each institution; the number of prisoners from each institution who have successfully completed community return schemes; the number of prisoners from each institution who failed to complete community return schemes and were returned to prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34007/13]
Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table and is accurate as of 9 July 2013.
| Institution | Participants | Completions | Breaches | Did not complete for medical reasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castlerea | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Cork | 39 | 24 | 9 | 0 |
| Dochas | 21 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Limerick | 50 | 27 | 7 | 1 |
| Loughan House | 76 | 45 | 3 | 4 |
| Midlands | 51 | 35 | 10 | 1 |
| Mountjoy | 68 | 47 | 14 | 2 |
| Portlaoise | 8 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Shelton Abbey | 135 | 102 | 5 | 1 |
| St Patrick's | 28 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Training Unit | 54 | 41 | 2 | 2 |
| Wheatfield | 37 | 22 | 7 | 0 |
| Total | 574 | 377 | 66 | 11 |
The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012-2015 and the recently published Joint Prison Service/Probation Service Strategic Plan 2013-2015 includes commitments to ensure that all prisoners released early from custody are placed on appropriate structured programme of temporary release. The Community Return Scheme is a recently introduced initiative whereby carefully selected prisoners can be granted reviewable temporary release coupled with a requirement to do community service work such as painting, gardening or graffiti removal in a supervised group setting. The type of work involved is intended to assist the community and the scheme is involved with a large number of charitable organisations and local community groups.
As the above information illustrates, the results of the Community Return Scheme have to date been extremely positive with almost 90% of participants having successfully completed their obligations or are currently complying with the conditions of their early release. Any participant in the Community Return Scheme who fails to comply with the conditions of their release is immediately returned to prison. As I have previously advised the Deputy, feedback from the participants has been positive with many commenting on the supports and structure that it gives them on their release and how it has assisted in their transition back into the community.
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