Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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501. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints under each category heading made by prisoners in 2019 and to date in 2022; the details of the outcomes upheld, not upheld, not proven, terminated, incomplete or withdrawn; the length of time it took to complete and communicate the outcomes of complaints to prisoners by the prison name in the breakdown of categories in which the complaints were filed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61032/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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502. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints made by prisoners in 2019 and to date in 2022; the details of the outcomes upheld, not upheld, not proven, terminated, incomplete or withdrawn; and the length of time that it took to complete and communicate the outcomes of complaints to prisoners [61033/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together.

I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service, however, the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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503. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints made by prisoner officers against prisoners and persons on remand in 2019 and to date in 2022; the details of the outcomes upheld, not upheld, not proven, terminated, incomplete or withdrawn; and the length of time that it took to complete and communicate the outcomes of complaints to prisoner officers. [61034/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there is no formal complaints mechanism for a prison officer to make a complaint against a prisoner. If a prisoner is found to be in breach of the Prison Rules, an officer can refer the prisoner to the disciplinary system in place under the Prisons Act, 2007 known as the P19 system.  This system allows Governors to impose sanctions where a breach of the rules has been proven to take place.

Such sanction(s) are normally in the format of loss of certain privileges such as reduced phone calls, reduced visits, prohibition on the use of the gym, prohibition on use of the tuck shop etc., for defined periods of time. At the higher end of the scale, Governors can also reduce remission, which in effect lengthens the period of time a prisoner is required to remain in prison.

The table below sets out the number of P19 disciplinary reports issued from January 2020 to June 2022.