Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of adult prisoners that select on a daily basis to be held in single separation by prison in March 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23740/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that data in relation to the number of prisoners who are placed on a restricted regime at their own request is not collated in the exact format requested. However the statistics concerning prisoners on restricted regimes are collated by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit for publication quarterly on its website (www.irishprisons.ie). The information can be found in the Information Centre – under Statistics & Information – Census Reports.

Under Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007 a prisoner may, either at his/her own request or when the Governor considers it necessary, in so far as is practicable and subject to the maintenance and good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause significant harm to him/her.

The fact that prisoners seeking protection are immediately separated for the general population or from specific prisoners identified as presenting a threat, clearly demonstrates the commitment of the Irish Prison Service to ensure their safety and security. If possible, prisoners can be transferred to other institutions where a restricted regime would not be necessary.

The Prison Rules 2007 provide that the imposition of a restricted regime is closely monitored by the Irish Prison Service and the status of each prisoner on restricted regime within the prison system is regularly reviewed.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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302. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners on a restricted regime as of 23 May 2018 by prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23745/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that data in relation to the number of prisoners on a restricted regime is collated in the census on a quarterly basis and therefore the data is not available for the date requested.  The last census available is April 2018.  

The statistics concerning prisoners on restricted regimes are available on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie, under Information Centre –  Statistics & Information – Census Reports.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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303. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the length of time prisoners were held on restricted regime by time period (details supplied) by prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23746/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that data in relation to the length of time individual prisoners were held on a restricted regime is not collated in the format requested by the Deputy. However, the data is available in the format outlined in the table below:

April 2018 Census

The restriction of a prisoner's regime can occur due to a number of factors including, the protection of vulnerable prisoners. This is provided for under Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007. A prisoner may, either at his/her own request or when the Governor considers it necessary, in so far as is practicable and subject to the maintenance and good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause significant harm to him/her.

In addition, the Governor may decide, for the maintenance of good order in the prison, to remove a prisoner from general association or structured activity to reduce the negative effect that a prisoner or prisoners may have on the general population. This is provided for under Rule 62 of the Prison Rules 2007.

The Prison Rules 2007 provide that the imposition of a restricted regime is closely monitored by the IPS and the status of each prisoner on restricted regime within the prison system is regularly reviewed.