Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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120. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when members of prison visiting committees will receive their travel expenses after each prison visit; the reason for the delay in making the payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53951/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Act 1925 provided for the statutory establishment of Prison Visiting Committees for each prison. Rules relating to the specific functions and operation of such Committees are set out in the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1925, and the Prisons (Visiting Committees) Order 1972.

Appointments to Prison Visiting Committees are made by the Minister for Justice. Each appointment to a visiting committee is for a period of three years. Committee members are paid a per diem payment of €142.50 per prison visited and vouched travel expenses of up to €30.

The Deputy may be aware that the National Shared Service Office introduced a new Travel and Subsistence system across the Civil Service and the Irish Prison went live on this system on 12^thJune 2023. At the early stage of the go-live process, a technical issue arose relating to the vouched travel expenses for the Visiting Committee members. The issue was brought to the attention of the NSSO and was resolved promptly. Any delay that was experienced by Visiting Committee members as a result is regretted.