Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the criteria for transferring prisoners to open prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3752/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the capacity of open prisons in the Irish prison system, by location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3799/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 193 together.

I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that all prisoners are considered for transfer under the Irish Prison Service Open Centre Policy. This policy document is available on the Irish Prison Service website (). I can further advise the Deputy that all prisoners being considered for a transfer from a closed prison to an open prison are risk assessed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service, who take into consideration a number of factors including:

• the safety of the public (specifically flight risk in the case of open prisons)
• nature and gravity of the offence
• length of sentence served to date
• length of sentence left to serve
• any prior record on temporary release
• behaviour in custody
• previous criminal history
• family support
• addiction issues/history
• compassionate and humane considerations (including facilitating family visits)
• prisoner's home address
• any report or recommendation made by the Governor, the Garda Síochána or the Probation Service.

The number of people in custody and bed capacity across the prison estate is published on a daily basis and is available on the Irish Prison Service website. This information can be located in the Information Centre – under Statistics & Information – Daily Prisoner Population.