Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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435. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the ability of prisoners in Castlerea Prison to receive visits from family members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32393/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that one of the core values of the Irish Prison Service is to endeavour to assist prisoners, where possible and appropriate, to maintain relationships with their families.

In accordance with the Prison Rules, all prisoners are entitled to receive by prior appointment not less than one visit from relatives or friends each week of not less than 30 minutes duration. All prisoners in custody have a visitor panel and phone contact panel. It is up to each prisoner to identify the persons that they place on each panel.

Each prison has a dedicated telephone line, operated during visiting hours, for the public to make contact and book an appointment to visit. There is also an option for families to request a visit through the online request system, accessible through the Irish Prison Service website.

The Irish Prison Service also provide family-friendly training to ‘front of house’ staff, which aims to improve staff awareness of the effects of imprisonment on families and allows staff to appropriately support families and children visiting prisons.

My officials in the Irish Prison Service have informed me that visits to prisoners in the Grove Area of Castlerea take place on a Saturday only, and on Saturday 24 June all family visits were cancelled due to staff shortages. There were 12 visits planned, and all visitors and prisoners were contacted by the prison on the previous evening.

I have been further advised that the cancellation of visits due to staff shortages is infrequent and Prison Governors only cancel visits when there is no other option.