Written answers

Thursday, 14 July 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

Prison Service

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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652. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is intended to publish all prison chaplain reports that were not published to date and were submitted to the governor of each prison and to the Director General of the Irish Prison Service under prison rules (details supplied);; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39023/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Prison Service Chaplaincy Service has a significant contribution to make as part of the multi-disciplinary team in a prison, addressing the physical, social and spiritual needs of prisoners in a holistic way. 

Each Chaplain is required under Rule 119(1) of the Prison Rules to submit a report to the Director General and to the Governor on matters relating to the provision of chaplaincy services in the preceding year.  I understand that arrangements are being made to publish the full suite of Chaplains' reports for 2021 on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie  in the third quarter of 2022.   

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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653. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she received the report of the Inspector of Prisons on the Dóchas Centre (women’s prison); when it will be published; the actions taken by her as a result of the recommendations in the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39035/22]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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657. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the specific processes that are impacting on the publication of unpublished reports of an organisation (details supplied), that is disciplinary, grievance, audit, financial, protected disclosure and data protection given the unpublished reports by the inspector of prisons. [39142/22]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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658. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of unpublished inspector-of-prisons reports that are in her possession; and the reason that they remain unpublished. [39143/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 653, 657 and 658 together.

Based on legal advice received by my Department, it is not proposed to publish, at this time, a three day monitoring report (August 2020) or a section 31(2) (February 2022) report received from the Inspector of Prisons in relation to the Mountjoy Women’s Prison (Dóchas Centre).

I have also now received a supplementary report requested by me in relation to matters arising from the section 31(2) investigation and this is being considered in conjunction with the earlier reports.

In addition to these reports, I received one Death in Custody report on 14 April 2022 and a further two on 19 May 2022. I also received the Inspector of Prisons Annual Report for 2021 on 19 May 2022. These reports are being reviewed by officials in my Department with a view to publication in the near future.

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