Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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476. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of assaults that have been recorded against prison officers and gardaí in each of the past five years by geographical location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54331/17]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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477. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of work days that have been lost as a result of assaults on fire fighters, prison officers and gardaí; the cost to the exchequer of such enforced absences from work; the number of staff that have not returned to duties as a result in each of the past five years, by profession; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54333/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.

I can assure the Deputy that I utterly condemn all attacks on our emergency services personnel. Such acts represent a blatant disregard for the safety of the brave men and women who work in our emergency services, who risk their lives every day in the service of the people of our State. 

The Deputy will appreciate that the fire services do not come within my remit, however, to be of assistance I sought the information requested from the Department of Housing, Planning & Local Government who have advised that the information is not compiled by them as Fire Fighters are Local Authority Staff.  However, it does remain open to the Deputy to contact the Local Authority directly who may be able to assistant him further in this regard.

In relation to Prison Officers, the following table provides a breakdown of the number of assaults that have been recorded against prison officers in the each of the past five years by geographical location and I hope the Deputy finds this information useful.

In June 2015, following a number of serious assaults on prison staff, the States Claims Agency commenced a review of assaults on prison staff by prisoners in accordance with Section 8 of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act, 2000.

In November 2016 the SCA presented the report to the then Tánaiste. The report noted many positive findings including that, given the number of committals in 2015, the ratio of assaults to the number of prisoners in the system was very low. The role of a prison officer is a difficult and challenging one. Prison staff must deal with a wide range of complex issues and there are occasions when they are subjected to unacceptable acts of violence.

The report contains a large number of recommendations. These recommendations were accepted and will be implemented - an undertaking that has been included as a "Key Action" in the Irish Prison Service's Strategic Plan 2016-2018. The Irish Prison Service is committed to creating a safer environment for all those who work or live within our prison walls. In addition, the Service is committed to ensuring that any staff member who is subject to or witnesses an assault is given the necessary supports in the aftermath of the incident.

Given the substantive nature of the recommendations, an implementation plan will be developed and actioned over the course of the next two years.

More generally, Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 specifically provides for assaults or threats to peace officers, including prison officers acting in the execution of their duty. Any person who assaults or threatens to assault a peace officer in the execution of their duty is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or both, or, on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or both. In addition, the Act allows for judges to impose such sentences consecutively on persons found guilty of such offences.

I can assure the Deputy that every assault on our front-line staff is treated as serious and appropriate action, including the reporting of such assaults to an Garda Síochána for the purposes of investigation and criminal prosecution, occurs where appropriate.

I have sought a similar breakdown from the Garda authorities in respect of the number of assaults against Members of An Garda Síochána and I will contact the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Prisoner on Staff assaults

* Provisional 2017 figures from 01January – 30 June.