Written answers
Tuesday, 11 November 2014
Department of Justice and Equality
Prisoner Releases
Brian Walsh (Galway West, Independent)
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304. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners granted temporary release who have failed to return to prison as required and remain on the run; the offences for which they were convicted; the length of sentences imposed; and the steps being taken to locate them. [43025/14]
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that in the five years and ten months from 1 January 2009 to 7 November 2014, 428 persons who were granted temporary release failed to return to the prison after a specified period. Details are set out in the table below.
Processes are in place in the Irish Prison Service to inform An Garda Síochána when prisoners become unlawfully at large and the Gardaí have the power to detain, arrest, and return such persons to prison.
Prisoners who failed to return from period of temporary release 1 January 2009 to 7 November 2014
| - | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 (to 7 November 2014) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide Offences | 3 | 1 | 4 | ||||
| Attempts/Threat to Murder | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 23 |
| Dangerous Negligent Acts | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| Robbery, Extortion and Hijacking Offences | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | ||
| Burglary and Related Offences | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 38 |
| Theft and Related Offences | 11 | 28 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 48 | 146 |
| Fraud, Deception and Related Offences | 2 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 22 |
| Controlled Drug Offences | 1 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 29 |
| Weapons and Explosives Offences | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| Damage to Property and the Environment | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 18 | |
| Public Order and Social Code Offences | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 28 |
| Road and Traffic Offences | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 37 |
| Other Offences | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 34 | |
| Total | 32 | 69 | 64 | 56 | 61 | 146 | 428 |
With regard to the length of sentences imposed, it is not possible to provide figures to the Deputy as this would require the examination of the individual records of each prisoner. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort and could not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources.
In October 2012, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service established a project team to examine how the Irish Prison Service might reduce the number of prisoners who are unlawfully at large from custody. The team has worked closely with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Social Protection and this work has led to the return to custody of a number of prisoners. This project will continue.
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