Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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865. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to the Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2024, noting 213 prisoners sleeping on cell floors representing a 150–156% annual increase, the daily average population versus design capacity in 2024 and 2025 to date; the implementation timeline, monthly targets, and KPIs for electronic monitoring for bail, post-release supervision, and community sanctions; the projected number of offenders to be diverted from custody in 2025 and 2026; and any planned Cork-region pilot scheme, by facility, in tabular form. [48106/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Prison Service has confirmed that information relating to prison capacity and the numbers of prisoners in custody is collated daily by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit and published on its website (www.irishprisons.ie). This information can be found in the Information Centre under Statistics & Information, Monthly Information Note. The direct link is: www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-information/monthly-information-note/.

In relation to design capacity, the capacity on any given date is available on the daily numbers which can be found at: www.irishprisons.ie/information-centre/statistics-information/2015-daily-prisoner-population/. It fluctuates regularly as spaces come onstream. The IPS cannot provide the “design” capacity because it changes as a build progresses and as a building is commissioned, and it would be impossible to ascertain the original design capacity of some of the older prisons.

The Department is leading a cross-agency project to introduce electronic monitoring (EM) for specific categories of individuals, as committed to in the Programme for Government, and in line with existing legal provisions. Existing legislation, including the Bail Act 1997, as amended, the Criminal Justice Act 2006, as amended, and the Sex Offender Act 2001, as amended, provide for electronic monitoring, in certain circumstances. A steering group is in place, made up of sectoral representatives, who will be involved in the delivery.A Request for Information was published on eTenders on Thursday, 5 June. This is a key early step in engaging with the market and preparing for a future Request for Tender. It is intended to go to tender for a provider this year. Work is progressing with representatives from various agencies who will be involved in the delivery of electronic monitoring. This includes consideration of technology, implementation, operating model design, and procurement. This will all inform the procurement approach.

I am committed to progressing and implementing policies aimed at increasing the use of community sanctions, that reduce offending, divert people away from imprisonment, and provide effective rehabilitation. In April 2025, I approved the publication of the Community Service - New Directions Implementation Plan 2025-2027 by the Probation Service. This plan sets out commitments to drive the delivery and support the increased use of Community Service as a robust and meaningful alternative to imprisonment. Engagement with the Judiciary, imbedding the principles of desistence, restorative justice and social justice, and increasing the visibility and accessibility of Community Service are part of this plan.

In June 2024 following on from the report of the Prison Overcrowding Response Group a range of actions to address prison overcrowding was agreed. Among these actions was the introduction in 2024 of a pilot Structured Temporary Release Scheme for suitable candidates in Limerick Women’s Prison. Recognising the positive impact of the pilot so far, the eligibility criteria for the scheme is now being extended on a phased basis to include more women in the prison.

Another of these actions is to amend legislation to increase the maximum number of hours that can be imposed under a community service order from 240 to 480 hours. The amendment will also require a judge to consider a community service order if a sentence of up to two years is being considered, rather than the current one year requirement. These amendments have been included in the General Scheme of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 which I published on 6 May 2025.In Budget 2025, the Probation Service received an additional €4 million, bringing their total budget to over €60 million. This is to fund the expansion of crime-diversion programmes, support step-down facilities, restorative justice, and community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

In addition, the CAST pilot project went live on 13 January 2025 and is currently being trialled in the Limerick Garda Division. It is a partnership pilot between An Garda Síochána (AGS) and the Mental Health Services (MHS), HSE and Mid-West Community Healthcare. CAST aims to reduce future presentations and interactions with AGS or other blue light emergency services, through community follow-ups and the case management of complex cases. The CAST team is staffed by mental health professionals and members of AGS, co-located and working collaboratively out of Henry Street Garda Station. As of 8 May 2025, there have been 40 diversions from arrest and subsequent detentions under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 2001. Over 141 individuals have interacted with the pilot and more than 48 referrals from within Limerick Garda Division have been received. The CAST Forum is now established and provides intensive interagency supports to a number of complex cases. There are currently no planned pilot schemes in the Cork region.