Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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353. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners certified for each prison in the most recent Rule 18 certificates issued before this date to each Governor; and how many certificates have been issued since 20 June 2020. [24083/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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354. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if each of the current Rule 18 certificates for all prisons stated capacity is in excess of the minimum standard recommended by European Prison Rules; and if so, by how much. [24084/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together.

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to provide the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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355. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a governor of a prison is obliged to accept prisoners over the number certified by Rule 18 certificate or over the number taking into account the European Prison Rules; and if the governor accepts prisoners over the numbers stated, if the governor is personally liable for a litigation claim as a result of overcrowding in that prison. [24085/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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356. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a governor of a prison accepts prisoners over the number recommended by European Prison Rules in respect of accommodation in that prison, whether certified by a current Rule 18 certificate or not, the governor is personally liable for a litigation claim as a result of overcrowding in that prison. [24086/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together.

I can inform the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service is obliged to comply with any order from a Court committing a person to custody, whether on a remand warrant or on a warrant of execution for a sentence. As such, no Prison Governor has an option to refuse a committal and must accept all people committed by the courts. I am advised that the question of a Governor being held personally liable for complying with an order of the Court does not arise.

Each prison’s operational bed capacity is certified individually and notified to Governors in accordance with Rule 18 of the Prison Rules 2007. Any permanent or long-term changes to operational bed capacity are notified to the Governor with a Revised Rule 18 Certificate.

I can also advise the deputy that detailed daily and monthly population and capacity figures are available on the Irish Prison's website. www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-information/statistics-introduction/