Written answers

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Department of Justice and Equality

Prison Staff

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the rostering arrangements for prison staff in the reception units of the prison service, where prisoners who have been committed to prison are either admitted to prison or released on temporary release; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14083/15]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The requirements for Reception and Registration areas of prisons is set out in Part 2 of the Prison Rules, 2007. In order to fulfil these statutory obligations there are rosters in place throughout the Prison Estate to meet these requirements. The rosters for these areas are generally on an 8am to 8pm basis with some variation depending on specific local demands. In addition to these rosters reception areas are manned as required outside of these hours to facilitate both Committals and Discharges.

The granting of temporary release is provided for in Section 1 of the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act, 2003. As provided for in this Act, I may consider those committed for non-payment of fines for temporary release where it is my opinion that it is necessary and expedient in order to ensure the good government of the prison concerned and to maintain good order in, and humane and just management of the prison concerned.

In practice, a prisoner may apply through the prison Governor for consideration for temporary release. Their family or their legal representative can also apply for consideration of such a concession. It is very important to note that it does not necessarily follow that a prisoner will receive temporary release even if the recommendation made by prison management and/or therapeutic services is to that effect. Each application is considered on its individual merits and a number of factors are taken into account when making a decision on whether to grant temporary release.

The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012-2015 and the Joint Prison Service/Probation Service Strategic Plan 2013-2015 includes working towards the objective of ensuring that all prisoners released early from custody are placed on appropriate structured programme of temporary release.

The Community Return Scheme is an initiative whereby carefully selected prisoners, serving sentences between 1 year and 8 years, 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.

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