Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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286. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints made by prisoners to the Irish Prison Service in 2016, by category of complaint per prison. [32273/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that it is not possible to collect the information required within the timeframe allotted. This information is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy once it becomes available.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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287. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of category A complaints made to the Irish Prison Service in 2016; the number of these complaints that were upheld or dismissed; and the average length of time it took to complete the complaints process and communicate the outcome to prisoners. [32274/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service currently operates a prisoner complaints process governed by S.I. No.11 of 2013, namely Rules 57 A and 57 B of the Prison Rules 2007.

The Irish Prison Service in 2012 introduced a complaints manual that specified differing categories of complaint e.g. Category A through F, this process assigns differing categories to differing investigative levels of prison management within prisons.

Category A complaints are defined in Rule 57B(1) of the Prison Rules (Amendment) 2013 as complaints alleging to :- “assault or use of excessive force against a prisoner, or ill treatment, racial abuse, discrimination, intimidation, threats or any other conduct against a prisoner of a nature and gravity to bring discredit on the Irish Prison Service”.

I can inform the Deputy that 76 Category A complaints were received in 2016, the following table represents the breakdown of complaints received by prison and the breakdown of the outcomes of all complaints. Overall, for the year 2016, 76 Category A complaints were received. Of these, 6 were upheld, 52 were not upheld, 0 were not proved, 8 were terminated under section 57B(5)(C) of the Prison Rules, 2007 and 10 are currently ongoing.

I am advised that the information requested regarding the average length of time it took to complete the complaints process and communicate the outcome to prisoners is not available at present. However, I am informed that an internal review of all complaints files is currently being carried out by the Irish Prison Service, the results of which will be available in due course.