Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that on 1 December 2023, there were 946 people held in prison custody solely on a remand or trial warrant.

I can further advise the Deputy that this figure does not include people who are serving a sentence, and who also have a remand or trial warrant that will become active once the sentence expires. The process to identify people in custody serving a sentence and whose remand/trial warrant will become active at the end of the sentence requires a manual review of individual files and the Irish Prison Service will write to the Deputy with this figure in due course.

The Irish Prison Service is managing significant numbers of people held on remand or trial warrants which is contributing to pressures on prison accommodation. As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the courts into custody and does not have the option to refuse to take people into custody whether sentenced, remand or awaiting trial.

I am advised that there are no prisoners held solely on remand in the Training Unit, Loughan House Open Centre or in Shelton Abbey Open Centre.