Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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517. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners that received a disciplinary sanction for breach of prison discipline by prison in tabular form; the nature of those sanctions imposed over the period 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25100/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the number of prisoners that received a disciplinary sanction for breach of prison discipline by prison is as outlined in the following tables for the period 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017 and 1 January 2018 to 31 May 2018.

1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017

1 January 2018 to 31 May 2018

When Prisoners receive a disciplinary sanction for breach of prison discipline it generates what is known as a ‘P19’ Report. The ‘P19 System’ refers to the disciplinary system in place under the Prisons Act, 2007, which allows Governors deal with prisoners who have committed breaches of the Prison Rules and allows Governors impose sanctions where a breach of the Rules has been proven to take place. Such sanction(s) are normally in the format of loss of certain privileges such as reduced phone calls, reduced visits, prohibition on the use of the Gym, prohibition on use of the Tuck Shop etc., for defined periods of time. At the higher end of the scale, Governors can also reduce remission, which in effect lengthens the period of time a prisoner is required to remain in prison.