Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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182. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she will publish the Office of Inspector of Prisons Covid-19 thematic inspection reports on Shelton Abbey Prison, Portlaoise Prison, Cork Prison and Arbour Hill Prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56551/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. The Office is required to inspect the twelve prisons in Ireland to examine the treatment and conditions of prisoners and staff.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to monitor the situation within prisons for prisoners and staff, the Inspector has suspended her 2021 general inspection programme and has instead embarked on a COVID-19 focused inspection schedule, designed to provide a human rights-based assessment of the response of the Irish Prison Service to the pandemic.

As the Deputy may be aware, on 3 August this year, Minister Hildegarde Naughton published the first 4 COVID - 19 Thematic Inspection reports received from the Inspector of Prisons in relation to Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Wheatfield and Limerick Prisons.

I have received Covid -19 Thematic Reports relating to Shelton Abbey, Portlaoise, Cork and Arbour Hill prisons. The intention is to bring all four reports to Government shortly and to publish them thereafter.