Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1950. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners who escaped from prisons in the State in each of the past ten years and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41185/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that no prisoners escaped from prisons during the period 1 January 2015 to 23 July 2025.

Prisoners who escape from prisons are categorised as Unlawfully at Large (UAL). This term is also used for prisoners who fail to return from bail, abscond from an open centre or breach conditions of temporary release. The vast majority of UAL cases are in the latter cohort and are classed as technical breaches as the person has failed to return to the prison on their designated sign-on date.

Where a person is UAL, the Irish Prison Service notify An Garda Síochána who may arrest, without warrant, a person whom they suspect to be unlawfully at large. The person may be returned to the prison and placed immediately back into the custody of the Governor of that prison. The term of their sentence is suspended for the period they have been at large.