Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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233. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the work or strategic planning that is underway to develop a non custodial approach for women offenders in view of the proven success of such models in reducing recidivism. [42383/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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There are a number of initiatives that have been taken in the area of female offenders who comprise a relatively small group within the criminal justice system in Ireland.

The Report of the Penal Policy Review Group published in September 2014 proposed alternatives to custodial sentences as the first choice of sanction. Chapter 6 of the Report is dedicated to the specific needs of female offenders. Work is underway to progress these recommendations. The Penal Policy Implementation Oversight Group has published three Progress Reports which are available to view on my Department’s website. I expect to publish the fourth report in the near future. The recommendations in respect of females are also included in actions 2.12 & 2.13 of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020.

Further, the Probation Service and Irish Prison Service Joint Strategic Women's Plan puts in place a structure for these two agencies to work more effectively with this vulnerable group in society. The Probation Service works very closely with a wide variety of statutory, voluntary and community services and resources. Prompt referral and effective communication with a variety of agencies is beneficial and a key aspect of the model used by the Probation Service in working with women. Focussed interventions help reduce offending, improve opportunities for reintegration and to improve outcomes more generally.

The Abigail Women's Centre run by DePaul Ireland (Tus Nua) was opened in a north Dublin suburb, in December 2014. This is a Probation Service funded project working with women leaving prison or on probation supervision and provides these women with a safe and positive supported environment. It is a dedicated women's initiative involving a range of agencies working together including the Dublin Regional Housing Executive, Dublin City Council, Probation Service, Irish Prison Service, Health Service Executive and the Dublin City Education and Training Board.

In the afore-mentioned Joint Strategic Women's Plan, the Irish Prison Service gave a commitment to explore the development of an open centre for women assessed as low risk of re-offending. This option was explored by a joint Irish Prison Service/Probation Service working group. Having considered the matter, it decided that rather than developing an open centre, a step down facility for women was a more practical and cost effective approach. The Irish Prison Service and Probation Service are in the process of tendering for the development of a step down unit for women in Dublin.