Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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112. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of times An Garda Síochána was called to respond to an incident in each of the prisons here in each of the years 2016 to 2018, inclusive, and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7537/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that members of An Garda Síochána may be called to attend prisons for a variety of reasons including the following:

- incidents relating to the possession of contraband by prisoners

- incidents relating to the smuggling of contraband by prison visitors

- deaths in custody

- reports of assault or other offences which would be considered a criminal matter

I am further advised that the Irish Prison Service does not collate all records in relation to the number of times An Garda Síochána are requested to attend at a prison. However, statistics are collated with respect to incidents where a member of An Garda Síochána is requested to attend in relation to a death in custody, and these are set out as follows:

Furthermore there may be instances where An Garda Síochána is requested to attend the prison in relation to a visitor suspected of smuggling contraband. The figures provided by the Irish Prison Service are below.