Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

133. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average daily number of people on community based restorative justice programmes in 2024; the target numbers for 2025; and the budget allocated. [21485/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As part of the Probation Service’s overall strategy to further develop capacity to deliver a high-quality service and meet the requirements contained in section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Victims of Crime) Act 2017, the Service established a National Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit (RJVSU) in October 2018. The Unit meets two core objectives:

1. Provide leadership and support for the consistent and integrated provision of a range of restorative justice models within the context of Probation assessment and supervision.

2. Act as the central point of contact for the Service to ensure an effective response to requests and queries from victims. This may include a request for engagement in a restorative justice process.

• Restorative Justice Services - Dublin, Wicklow, Meath and Kildare
• Restorative Justice in the Community - Tipperary, Laois, Offaly and has recently expanded to Westmeath, Carlow and Kilkenny
• Le Chéile - Limerick, & Clare, and has recently expanded in Cork and extended Kerry
• Cornmarket Project - Wexford
• Tuam Community Training Centre - Galway, Sligo, and Roscommon.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

134. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the breakdown of the €53 million capital allocation for 2025 by project and prison; the projected number of additional bed spaces each project will deliver; and on what timeline. [21486/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am advised that the Irish Prison Service (IPS) has a continuous rolling capital plan in place for 2025 with an associated funding envelope of €53M.The current high level allocations for 2025 by NDP categories are:

The IPS is continuing to review its estate on an ongoing basis to identify short/medium term projects that could deliver additional prisoner accommodation in addition to more longer-term proposals that are subject to Public Spending Code obligations.

The estimated expenditure on accommodation projects to be completed in 2025 is €12.4 million, with €11.8 million allocated in 2025 to the planning and design phases of longer term projects on the capital programme. A further €3.6m relates to final payments of projects under construction in 2024.

The 2025 projects include the delivery of over 100 spaces across Castlerea, Cork, the Dóchas Centre, Limerick, Midlands, and Mountjoy.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

135. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when he last consulted the Inspector of Prisons and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission regarding compliance with the UN Mandela Rules; and if he will publish any correspondence since January 2024 relating to overcrowding. [21487/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Inspector of Prisons is a statutory office holder, independent in the performance of his functions, in accordance with the Prisons Act 2007 and plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system. The Irish Prison Service takes due account of the Inspection Framework for Prisons published by the Office of the Inspector of Prisons and endeavours to implement the Inspector of Prisons recommendations.

In relation to conditions of detention for all prisoners, either physical or regime, the Irish Prison Service strives to conform to international standards including those instruments set out by the United Nations as a minimum. Where possible, the Irish Prison Service endeavours to exceed these standards and, where deficiencies are identified, they ensure appropriate action is taken to address them.

Among the specific steps taken to bring the Irish prison system into line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (known as ‘Mandela Rules’) are measures related to solitary confinement. This included the introduction of Statutory Instrument 276 of 2017 which amended Rule 27 of the Prison Rules 2007 and which provides for prisoners to be allowed to spend a minimum period of 2 hours out of his or her cell daily. This Statutory Instrument is implemented through the Irish Prison Service's Policy on the Elimination of Solitary Confinement, which is publicly available on their website.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

136. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps being taken to address the 48% overcrowding in Limerick Women's Prison; and whether any female prisoners have been transferred abroad or to Garda stations due to lack of capacity. [21488/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm that no female prisoners have been transferred abroad or to Garda stations due to lack of capacity.

A Prison Overcrowding Response Group (PORG) was established in July 2023, composed of officials from the Department of Justice and representatives from relevant agencies. The Group is considering measures to address capacity issues in the prison estate. In June 2024, following a report from this Group, a range of actions were agreed and work to implement these is ongoing.Two actions, concerning a new structured temporary release for women and the creation of a specialised Probation Service response for scaling, have been combined and a pilot scheme has been established targeting women serving custodial sentences of 18 months or less in Limerick’s Female Prison.In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 300 additional spaces.

The Irish Prison Service capital budget is €53m in 2025, an increase of €22.5m on the original 2024 allocation, focused on bringing additional prison spaces into the system. The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with the Department of Justice to progress plans to bring on stream accommodation to support the target of 1,500 additional prison places as set out under the Programme for Government.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

137. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether his Department has benchmarked Irish prison population rates against comparable EU jurisdictions; to provide that data; and to outline any best practice models being considered to curb unsentenced and short sentence committals. [21489/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics (commonly known as SPACE - Statistiques Pénales Annuelles du Conseil de l’Europe) have collected data on imprisonment and penal institutions across Europe since 1983. Data relating to Irish prison population rates as they compare to those of EU member states is publicly available at: www.coe.int/en/web/prison/space.The Council’s most recent annual report for 2023 can be accessed here: wp.unil.ch/space/files/2025/04/space_i_2023_report.pdf.In relation to the Deputy’s question on best practice models being considered, it is important to note that measures taken to address prison overcrowding in one jurisdiction may not be directly transferable to another due to differences in legal systems. However, in response to capacity challenges in Irish prisons, a Prison Overcrowding Response Group was established in July 2023, composed of officials from the Department of Justice and representatives from relevant agencies. The Group considered a range of evidence-informed measures to address capacity issues in the prison estate.

In June 2024, following a report from this Group, a range of actions were agreed and work to implement these is ongoing. These include developing new, innovative responses to deliver structured temporary release for suitable prisoners, actions to increase the use of community service as a priority, and advancing legislative changes, to support the delivery of community-based sanctions more generally.