Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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412. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the average number of prisoners in custody for the months of November 2014 to March 2015, inclusive; if she will provide, in tabular form, the average number of prisoners per month, broken down by prison; the capacity of each prison; and the Inspector of Prisons' recommended capacity of each prison for each of these months. [15651/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The information sought by the Deputy has been provided by the Irish Prison Service and is set out in the following table:

As outlined in the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, it is intended to align the bed capacity of our prisons with the guidelines laid down by the Inspector of Prisons, in so far as this is compatible with public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system. This has been completed for 9 out of the 14 prisons in the State. The number in custody on 20th April (3,718) represented 93% of the Inspector of Prisons recommended total of 3,982.

The Deputy will be aware that the average number of prisoners in custody in Ireland rose from 3,321 during 2007 to 4,318 during 2012, an increase of over 30%. Likewise the total number of committals to prison also rose sharply during the same period, from 11,934 in 2007 to 17,026 in 2012 – an increase of over 43%.

2013 saw the first significant decrease in prison numbers since 2007. There were 15,735 committals to prison in 2013 which was a decrease of 7.6% on the 2012 figure. The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody has also dropped in recent years. The average number in custody for 2014 was 3,916 a reduction of 10.8% on the 2011 average of 4,390.

The Deputy may wish to note that the number in custody reached a peak of 4,621 on 23rd February 2011. Today there are 903 less prisoners in custody which represents a decrease of 19%.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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413. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of prisoners temporarily released on the community return programme, by prison, and by year, from the years 2012 to 2014. [15652/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table:

The Community Return Scheme is a unique 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.

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. 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.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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414. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of prisoners temporarily released on the community support programme, by prison, and by year, from the years 2012 to 2014. [15653/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table:

Total Releases on to the Community Support Scheme

The initial scheme was set up in Cork in 2013. It was expanded to Mountjoy Campus later on that year. The West Dublin Campus commenced in mid 2014 and expanded to Limerick Prison in late 2014.

Community Support Schemes have been set up to address the recidivism levels of those serving sentences of under 12 months from those catchment areas. The Community Support Scheme groups comprise of a number of prison based personnel, representing the discipline grades and therapeutic services, staff from the Irish Prison Service/Probation Service co-located unit as well as Community Support Workers based in the community.

The groups engage with prisoners shortly after committal and seek to identify risk factors, make appropriate referrals and prepare a sentence management plan in each case. The primary aim of these Schemes is to reduce the current recidivism rates by arranging for additional support structures and provide for a more structured form of temporary release.

These Schemes focus on working with short term sentenced prisoners - helping with issues such as housing, medical care, substance abuse, training needs, etc. The aim is to increase support to prisoners - prior to their release from prison, upon their release and then for a period after their release in order to help break the cycle of reoffending.