Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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579. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the policy for family members to provide clothes to persons in prison; if they can be hand-delivered; if there will be any changes in this policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59105/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Irish Prison Service stopped receiving property at prison entrances as an infection control measure. Property was only received by post which allowed for it to be quarantined for a suitable period of time. While this had an impact on families it was a necessary measure at the time in the exceptional circumstances that applied.

As part of the ongoing unwinding of Covid-19 restrictions, the Irish Prison Service has recommenced accepting prisoner property at prison entrances. The Irish Prison Service advise me that they will issue a reminder to all prisons regarding the need to accept prisoner property from families during visits to the prison.