Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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80. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she has taken to deal with consistent criticisms from the UN in relation to the violation of prisoners human rights as a result of prolonged use of solitary confinement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27427/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Since the Irish Prison Service (IPS) Statistics Unit commenced the collation of a quarterly Census of Restricted Regime Prisoners in July 2013 - available on its website www.irishprisons.ie - the number of prisoners on 22/23 hour lock up has decreased from 211 to 74 i.e. by 137 (65%).

I am advised by the Director General of the IPS that he has established a high level group to look at measures which can be introduced to reduce the number of prisoners currently held on restricted regimes with a view to ensuring that all receive, as a minimum standard, out of cell time of 3 hours per day to engage in exercise or activity. The Restricted Regimes policy seeks to ensure prisoner access to meaningful activities including education, work training, gym and recreation in out of cell time. It also provides the prisoner with access to phone calls and visits.