Written answers

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Department of Justice and Equality

Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes

Photo of Mark WardMark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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964. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who accessed community Prison Link services in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by prison and gender in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22621/20]

Photo of Mark WardMark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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966. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost to implement video calls between prisoners and the Prison Link service on an on-going basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22671/20]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 964 and 966 together.

I can advise the Deputy that the Community Prison Link service is a non-prison based service that works with people with addiction issues both in prison and in the community. In some cases the organisation continues to work with individuals in the event they enter into the custody of certain prisons in the State. As Community Prison Link is primarily non-prison based, and only available in a limited number of prisons, the Irish Prison Service does not currently have plans to make the service available on the Video Conferencing platform. However, I am advised that the situation will be kept under review.

The Irish Prison Service Video Conferencing platform enables Professional Visits, Court Appearances, and Family Visits take place virtually across the prison estate. This forum also enables and supports, where required the delivery of service provision to prisoners. As the Video Conferencing platform is used for a range of purposes and services it is not possible to provide the Deputy with the cost to implement video calls between prisoners and the Prison Link Service on an on-going basis. The Irish Prison Service supports approximately 2,000 calls per week.

The Irish Prison Service have further advised that they do not keep records on the amount of prisoners who access the Community Prison Link Services. However I have requested the Department of Health, who fund these services, to review their records to see if they can provide the information requested. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as their reply is received.

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