Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

94. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners throughout each category currently serving prison sentences; the extent to which first-time offenders in all cases have been offered rehabilitative or educational training or segregation from prisoners with a history of involvement with gangs or recidivists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17616/16]

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

I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service publish the capacity of its prisons and the numbers in custody on a daily basis on their website ().

I can further advise that a breakdown of the offence groups for which individuals were incarcerated on 31 May 2016, the latest date for which an offence breakdown is available, is included in the table below.

Offence Group Description

The manner in which records are collated does not allow us to differentiate between first-time offenders and repeat offenders. There is a standard operational procedure in place to ensure that upon committal, all offenders are assessed and accommodated appropriately according to their needs and specific security status. Dedicated committal units have been established in all committal prisons for this purpose.

I am also advised by the Irish Prison Service, that it provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to those in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes can offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encouraging them to lead law abiding lives on release. These programmes are available in all prisons and all prisoners are eligible to use the services.

On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and are informed of the services available in the prison. At this point prisoners may be referred to services or they can self refer at a later date. Where Governors consider on the information available, that a prisoner needs a particular intervention they will initiate a referral.

The development of prisoner programmes forms a central part of the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2016 - 2018, which I intend to publish on 27 June 2016. There is a clear commitment in the Strategy to enhance sentence planning through Integrated Sentence Management and the delivery of prison based rehabilitative programmes.