Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service has continued to unwind Covid-19 restrictions throughout 2022, with most restrictions lifted at this stage and normal service provision in operation across the Prison Estate subject to available resources. 

The Irish Prison Service is currently working towards the resumption of weekly physical visits on a trial basis by the end of November 2022.

The Irish Prison Service is mindful of the importance of ensuring that prisoners continue to maintain meaningful contact with their families while in custody. Families and friends play an important and supportive role in the rehabilitation of prisoners and in their preparation for life post release.

Throughout the pandemic the Irish Prison Service facilitated family visits through the provision of physical visits, when safe to do so, or through the provision of video visits. In light of their popularity, the Irish Prison Service intends to continue to offer the use of video visits as an additional visiting mechanism going forward.

It is however important to note that under S.I. No. 250 of 2020 changes to visits, physical recreation, exercise or training in prisons can be made as necessary to prevent or limit the spread of an infectious disease as specified by the Infectious Diseases Regulations 1981.  This is not limited to the control of Covid-19 but rather a whole range of dangerous and infectious diseases.

However, I can assure the Deputy that the Service will continue to balance the need for infection control with the need to ensure that prisoners continue to receive support from family and friends while in prison.