Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1191. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when a new prisoner complaints system will be put in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63025/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that substantial work has been completed on the necessary actions to introduce the new Prisoner Complaints System, including on staff training, the development of an integrated IT system to support case handling and a draft policy for complaints handling.

The critical path for the introduction of the new system includes the drafting of the Statutory Instrument to support a legally sound administrative process and to amend the prison rules.

My officials and the Prison Service continue to engage with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with a view to completing work on the Statutory Instrument which will give legal effect to the new Prisoner Complaints System.

They are also continuing to engage with the relevant stakeholders, including the Office of the Ombudsman, with regard to the introduction of the new complaints system and in preparation for its future operation.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1192. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the monitoring report into the monitoring visit of a place of detention in April 2020 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63026/21]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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1193. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the special investigation report completed in 2020 will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63027/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1192 and 1193 together.

The Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in how it carries out its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. 

The Inspector of Prisons three day monitoring report of Mountjoy Women’s Prison (Dóchas Centre) was received in my office in August 2020.  This report has been held for further consideration pending the completion by the Inspector of a report being carried out under section 31(2) of the Prisons Act 2007 in relation to matters concerning the Dóchas Centre.

The Inspector has indicated that she is currently finalising this investigation report and I expect to receive the final report shortly. It is my intention to consider both of these reports as well as their  publication together in due course.