Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prison spaces available throughout the service; the extent to which cells are occupied by two or more prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44486/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the Irish Prison Service collates and publishes the prisoner population breakdown, including the number of prison spaces available in all prisons, on a daily basis and this information is available on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie 

The Irish Prison Service collates a quarterly census on cell occupancy and the position as at July 2017 is set out as follows:

I can inform the Deputy that all committals are assessed upon arrival to prison. This assessment process, inter alia, seeks to ensure that wherever possible, prisoners are accommodated in cells appropriate to their needs. Some prisoners are more suited to multi-occupancy cells, while others are more suited to single-cell occupancy.  It should be borne in mind that in certain cases prisoners are housed together for reasons other than lack of capacity. Family members and friends  often elect or are assigned a shared cell. Shared cell accommodation can be very beneficial from a management point of view particularly for those who are vulnerable and at risk of self-harm.

In addition, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service has appointed a high-level Group to introduce a standard Risk Assessment Tool for use throughout the prison estate. 

This Risk Assessment Tool will include provisions for the assessment of prisoners for suitability for cell-sharing, for moves within individual prisons and other operational decisions.  The Assessment Tool is currently being developed with professional advice and assistance from the State Claims Agency.

This Risk Assessment Tool will include provisions for the assessment of people in custody for suitability for cell-sharing, for moves within individual prisons and other operational decisions.  The Assessment Tool is currently being developed with professional advice and assistance from the State Claims Agency, and is very much at an advanced stage and is subject to the usual operational and security considerations.