Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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126. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the objective of the incentivised regime in relation to remission of sentence is to provide tangible incentives to prisoners to participate in structured activities and to reinforce incentives for good behaviour, leading to a safer and more secure environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48702/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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127. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a differentiation of levels of privilege, that is, basic, standard and enhanced currently in operation on the E2 landing of Portlaoise prison, County Laois, and that enhanced privileges are not a right and are in fact dependent on meeting certain criteria, for that level, notably by exemplary behaviour and satisfactory engagement in structured activities. [48703/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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128. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views that the progression of a person (details supplied) to the enhanced level was dependent on them meeting the criteria for that level, notably by exemplary behaviour and satisfactory engagement in structured activities. [48704/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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129. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the incentivised regime scheme regarding one third remission is mandatory for each prison and for all prisoners. [48705/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 129, inclusive, together.

I can inform the Deputy that the Incentivised Regimes Policy was introduced on a phased basis across all prisons in 2012 and is now operational in all institutions. Incentivised Regimes provides for a differentiation of privileges between prisoners according to their level of engagement with services and quality of behaviour. The objective is to provide tangible incentives to prisoners to participate in structured activities and to reinforce good behaviour, leading to a safer and more secure environment.

There are three levels of privilege - basic, standard and enhanced and each prison has developed an information booklet on how the scheme operates and specifically on the criteria and privileges associated with each level of regime. Prisoners on the enhanced regime level are significantly more likely to benefit from temporary release programmes such as Community Return – where prisoners are released early under Probation Supervision to partake of voluntary work for the benefit of the community – and/or transfer to an open centre. These are significant motivational factors in encouraging prisoners to engage in authorised structured activities and improve general behaviour. The hope is that these benefits are not just apparent in prisons and that the behavioural change effected will stay with the prisoner on his release. Experience in other jurisdictions has shown that an incentivised regime structure is a hugely valuable addition to prisons in the context of good order and prisoner compliance.

The standard set of core privileges provided in each prison comprises of different levels of daily gratuity ranging from €0.95 to €2.20, the number and length of visits a prisoner is allowed to receive and the number of telephone calls a prisoner is allowed to make. Each prison has drawn up a list of privileges available under each regime level. The list of available privileges is likely to vary between prisons and within different areas of a prison, depending on the operational and infrastructure requirements of each prison. Examples of other incentives offered include improved accommodation ( e.g. move from dormitory accommodation to a single room in an open centre). In the past, access to facilities such as DVD players, games consoles have been provided. Prisoners can also gain access to employment opportunities within the prison e.g. kitchens, laundries etc.

Specifically in relation to Portlaoise Prison E Block, the introduction of the Incentivised Regimes policy within the prison system had to take cognisance of existing practices and procedures in prisons. This was to ensure that prisoners were not disadvantaged or suffered a deterioration in their regime due to the introduction of this new policy. Experience in other jurisdictions has shown that an incentivised regime structure is a hugely valuable addition in prisons in the context of good order and prisoner compliance. As such, prisoner buy-in is an essential component for the success of the initiative.

I can advise the Deputy that the Governor of Portlaoise prison and his management team make decisions on the regime level for prisoners on the E Block. On 16 December of the 11 prisoners on the E2 landing 9 were on the enhanced regime and 2 were on the standard. While all prisoners serving a sentence, (excluding those serving a life sentence; those serving a sentence for the non payment of a court ordered debt and those serving sentences for contempt of court), may apply for one third remission, applications are considered by reference to a number of other factors including behaviour and conduct while incarcerated, the nature of the offence, the level and nature of the prisoner's engagement in authorised structured activities and the views of An Garda Síochána.