Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way she plans to reform penal policy here; if she is satisfied with the operation of the community return scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43786/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to a programme of comprehensive reform in the administration of criminal justice in Ireland, including in particular reform in prison and penal policy. In that context, I welcome the Report of the Penal Policy Review Group which I published on 17 September. The Report proposes the adoption of a penal policy with the dual purposes of punishment and rehabilitation both in the imposition and management of criminal sanctions.

Some of the report’s recommendations can be implemented in the short to medium term, while others will require a more long term approach. As an initial step, I recently obtained the agreement, in principle, of Government to proceed immediately with the implementation of the following key recommendations:

- bringing forward legislative proposals to establish the Parole Board on an independent statutory basis;

- preparing proposals and options for Government on reform of sentencing policy including a review of the threshold at which presumptive minimum sentences in drugs and other offences apply;

- preparing proposals for Government on legislating for the review's recommendation that Courts set out in writing their reasons for imposing a custodial sentence;

- preparing proposals on the potential for increased use of earned remission; and

- pursuing options for an open prison for female offenders.

The Community Return programme continues to be rolled out nationally and is a novel initiative combining unpaid supervised work for the benefit of the community with early release and resettlement support. Almost 1,050 prisoners have taken part since October 2011 with 142 currently engaged on the scheme. Compliance has been almost 90%. Those who do not comply with the terms and conditions of their release are re-committed to prison immediately to serve the rest of their sentence in custody.

Apart from delivering real savings in the form of saved prison bed spaces and reparation to the community, I believe one of the most worthwhile elements of the programme is the positive development in providing a structure and support which can help prisoners to successfully resettle in their communities.