Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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444. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 24 July 2018, the reason the figures for prisoners sleeping on the floor in Cloverhill Prison between April and June 2018 provided in the reply were substantially different and substantially higher than the figures originally provided in response to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 10 July 2018. [35651/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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445. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 24 July 2018, if seven prisoners slept on the floor of Cloverhill Prison on the night of 17 July 2018 and not zero prisoners, as stated in the response to the question. [35652/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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446. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to the fact that the the figures for prisoners sleeping on the floor in Cloverhill Prison between April and June 2018 provided in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 24 July 2018 were substantially different and substantially higher than the figures originally provided in response to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 10 July 2018, his views on that fact; and if he will investigate whether the first response was sent in error or with the intention to mislead. [35653/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 to 446, inclusive, together.

In relation to Parliamentary Question No. 444, reference No. 35651/18, the matter has been looked into and I am advised that the word 'average' was omitted from the response to Parliamentary Question No. 287 of 10 July 2018; therefore, the figures were presented as actual as opposed to average.  I sincerely regret any confusion this may have caused and the Dáil record will be amended accordingly.

The table provided in response to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 24 July 2018 provided the nightly figures for prisoners on the floor for each of the nights in the months of April, May and June.  These figures diverge from the response to Parliamentary Question No. 287 as these figures were actual as opposed to average.

In relation to Parliamentary Question No. 445, reference No. 35652/18, I can also advise the Deputy that in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 673 of 24th July 2018 it was stated that on the 17th July there were 396 prisoners in custody in Cloverhill Prison with a bed capacity of 431, equating to an occupancy rate of 92%.  However, it was incorrectly assumed and stated that there were no prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor.  I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that Cloverhill Prison Management have confirmed there were 2 prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor on that date.