Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1050. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons deemed to be members of criminal gangs who are currently serving time in prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18322/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are currently 113 prisoners in custody, serving a sentence or awaiting trial, who are associated with known organised criminal gangs.

There is an additional 70-80 prisoners who are associates of these prisoners, but who are not known to be officially aligned to organised gangs, and others who are part of “gangs” in prison who are not known as organised criminal gangs.

These figures exclude the subversive prisoners in Portlaoise Prison.

Membership or allegiance to these criminal groups fluctuates on a continuous basis, with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated on a daily basis.

It is also the case that prisoners will not always declare their affiliation to certain groupings, and it is therefore not possible to provide definitive numbers in relation to the number of known members of criminal groupings currently in custody.

It should also be noted that more than one criminal gang may group together under the umbrella of a particular group, and in some instances some gangs may form splinter groups.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1051. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the prisons throughout the country are effectively sealed off from the point of view of drug distribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18323/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The stated mission of the Irish Prison Service is to provide safe, secure and humane custody for people who are sent to prison. The Irish Prison Service is committed to managing custodial sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoners to embrace change and work towards living law-abiding and purposeful lives on release.

The pernicious nature of the problems caused by the presence of harmful drugs, within communities, and in prisons, has been well-documented. The incursion of illicit drugs to the prison environment poses a number of challenges and risks, not only in terms of the negative health issues caused by addiction, but also by increasing threats to safe custody and good order as manifested in acts of violence, self-harm, bullying and other criminal activity.

Over 70% of people committed to prison have addiction issues. Those in active addiction, continue their drug-seeking behaviour inside prison, notwithstanding the supports that are available to address their addiction and support recovery. The Prison Service has taken determined actions to reduce the flow of contraband into prisons but, similar to communities nationwide, no prison community is completely 'sealed off' from the illegal trafficking of drugs, and drug-free prisons will only be possible when we have a drug-free society.

That said, the Prison Service takes a very proactive approach to preventing the smuggling of contraband into prisons and continues to review and upgrade security measures on an ongoing basis to tackle and reduce the smuggling of contraband into prisons. Some of these measures include:

Full security reviews of all prisons are currently under way and expected to conclude in Quarter 2, 2023;

Installation of nets across prison exercise yards and ongoing research into new models;

Drug-swabbing machines at entry-points to closed prisons;

Targeted, intelligence-led searching;

Random searching;

A pilot scheme to examine the use of anti-drone technology;

Placement of prisoners in high-security locations;

Re-aligning the Irish Prison Service Canine Unit in the Operational Support Group;

Use of CCTV;

Use of confidential phone line;

Continuing research into technological solutions to prevent the smuggling of contraband into prisons, within the limitations of existing legislation;

Continuing consultation and ideas exchange with other prison jurisdictions;

Customer service training for front-of-house staff to enhance detection practice;

Ongoing development and strengthening of the Irish Prison Service partnership with An Garda Síochána, with regard to the organised trafficking of contraband into prisons;

Joint Garda & Irish Prison Service operations to tackle drugs being thrown across prison walls; and

Awareness building of the harmful effects of illicit drug use amongst the prison population, including peer-led education and information campaigns, and information campaigns directed at visitors.

The Prison Service is currently working to update and publish a new Illicit Drug Strategy by end of quarter 2 2023. This strategy will re-affirm the commitment to working steadfastly to reduce the harm of drug use within the prison population. This strategy will set out practical goals to increase support for security measures to prevent access, education and information programmes to deter trafficking, and drug treatment and counselling services in collaboration with government and non-government partners to help tackle the insidious threat posed by illegal drug use and trafficking.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1052. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who have become absent from prison without leave before the end of their prison sentence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18324/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service the total number of people who have absconded from custody since 2014 is 79, of which 7 are currently at large.

An Garda Sìochàna are informed when a person absconds from custody and Gardaí have the power to detain, arrest and return that person to custody.

Experience has shown that the vast majority of people who abscond return voluntarily or are returned to custody to complete their sentences within a short timeframe.