Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

369. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the way she intends to reform penal policy; if she is satisfied with the operation of the community return scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29920/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Penal Policy Review Group was established in 2012, in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group, to conduct a wide ranging strategic review of penal policy taking into account relevant work already carried out in this jurisdiction and elsewhere, the rights of those convicted of crimes, the perspective of those who are victims of crime, and the interests of society in general.

The terms of reference for the Group included an examination and analysis of the role of penal policy in crime prevention; sentencing policies; alternatives to custody; custodial accommodation and regimes; reintegration and rehabilitation; and any special issues relating to female offenders.

In November 2014, I submitted the Report of the Penal Policy Review Group to the Government. As an initial step, the Government agreed, in principle, 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.

Work is underway to progress the implementation of these decisions. To this end I have established a Penal Policy Implementation Oversight Group. The Group is chaired by Dr. Mary Rogan, Head of Law at Dublin Institute of Technology who was a member of the review group. The first meeting of the Group was held on 15 May 2015 and the intention is for the first Implementation Report to be submitted to me in November.

The Community Return Programme formed part of the examination by the Penal Policy Review Group, who recommended the continued use and expansion of the programme. Work to achieve the expansion of the Community Return Programme is underway. The number of participants on the programme was increased to 450 in 2014 and the target for 2015 has also been increased.

Last year I was also pleased to be presented with the evaluation report of the Community Return programme, published jointly by the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service, entitled "Community Return: A Unique Opportunity - A descriptive evaluation of the first twenty six months (2011-2013)". This evaluation highlighted the positive impact of Community Return and also recommended its expansion.