Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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53. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners which were granted one third remission in each of the years 2012 to 2015; the person who is the arbitrator of such applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29835/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all prisoners who are sentenced to a term of imprisonment, with the exception of life sentence prisoners, qualify for one quarter remission on the basis of good behaviour. In addition, prisoners who have engaged in authorised structured activity may apply to receive enhanced remission of greater than one quarter but not exceeding one third of their sentence. In order for a prisoner to be granted enhanced remission, I must be satisfied that the prisoner is less likely to re-offend and is better able to re-integrate into the community.

The principles governing the awarding of enhanced remission are contained under Rule 59 of the Prison Rules 2007 to 2014 (S.I. No. 252 of 2007 and S.I. No. 385 of 2014).

Information prior to 2014 regarding enhanced remission application is not available. I am advised that the Irish Prison Service introduced a database in 2014 to track the number of applications and decisions for enhanced remission. The current number of persons granted enhanced remission by year is set out in the following table. Decisions regarding applications for enhanced remission under the Prison Rules are generally made by Irish Prison Service officials on my behalf.