Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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1602.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures in place to support victims of a crime after conviction, in particular allowing victims to prepare accordingly by informing victims of changes to the perpetrator’s sentence, including temporary releases and prison transfers; if the Minister will examine a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33346/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The victim of a crime for which a person has been convicted is entitled to certain information about the management of the perpetrators sentence, while they are in the custody of the Irish Prison Service. To provide this information directly to victims, the Irish Prison Service operates a dedicated Victim Liaison Office (VLO).

Registration with the Prison Service VLO is voluntary and individual victims and their family can choose if they wish to be kept informed by the Prison Service of development in the sentence management of the perpetrator. This must always be the case as receiving such information automatically could cause upset and distress for some victims.

Once a victim has registered with the Irish Prison Service VLO, the Victim Liaison Officer will enter into direct contact with them to inform them of any significant development in the management of the perpetrator’s sentence, which include temporary releases, parole board hearings, prison transfers and release dates.

In terms of prison transfers, these can happen for a variety of reasons, including operational reasons.

As these are operational considerations, impacting on the day-to-day running of prisons, prison transfers are generally a matter for the Irish Prison Service. That said, I am assured that all decisions concerning the sentence management of a prisoner are made in a balanced and considered manner having regard to all various factors and programmes of temporary release are kept under continuous review and are dependent on the individuals compliance with the conditions attached to that approved programme.

Further information on the Irish Prison Service VLO can be found on and the Victims Charter, .