Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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935. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of reported sexual assaults in Irish prisons, by prison and location of the reported assault in each prison such as cell, yard, landing, workshop, for each year 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49012/25]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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936. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the process for handling suspected and reported sexual assaults in Irish prisons; the number of instances of that process being instigated in each year from 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the outcome of each instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49013/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 935 and 936 together.

The table below sets out the number of reported sexual assaults on staff and on prisoners from 2022 to date in 2025.

For operational and privacy reasons, the internal prison locations (such as cell, yard, or workshop) are not provided.

The data provided in the table is sourced from the National Incident Management System, which records incidents reported in prisons. The figures refer to alleged sexual assaults involving prisoners on staff and prisoner-on-prisoner incidents.

Given the small number of incidents reported each year, and their sensitivity, further detail such as outcomes or specific locations are not published.

All reports of sexual assault are treated with the utmost seriousness and are referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. Staff and prisoners affected are offered appropriate supports, including psychological and counselling services.

Additional supports are available for staff, including the Employee Assistance Programme, Critical Incident Stress Management, 24/7 confidential counselling and a free HSE-funded wellbeing text service, and for prisoners, including access to psychology services, targeted funding for interventions linked to mental health and sexual violence, and outreach from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre in the Dóchas Centre and Limerick Female Prison, with access for other prisons as required.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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937. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 680 of 24 June 2025, the number of instances where a 23 or 24 hour restricted regime was in place for a period of 15 consecutive days or longer in each year 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025; if this information is unavailable, the way in which he is satisfied, and the public assured that prisoners held on a 23 or 24 hour restricted regime are not subject to prolonged solitary confinement; and the way in which he will ensure adherence to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. [49014/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of reasons for the restriction of a person’s regime while in custody. This includes for safety or protection reasons, on the grounds of order and to protect the prison population from the spread of infection.

My Department has taken steps to bring the Irish prison system into line with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (known as ‘Mandela Rules’) in respect of 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.

While there are a number of reasons why a person may be on a restricted regime, this is not to say that in all instances where a person is on a restricted regime that they will be held in solitary confinement for 22 or more hours a day. The Prison Rules 2007 also provide that the imposition of a restricted regime is closely monitored by the Irish Prison Service and the status of each prisoner on restricted regime within the prison system is regularly reviewed.

On occasion, it is necessary for prisoners to be separated from the general prison population. Under Rule 62 of the Prison Rules 2007, a Governor may decide, for the maintenance of good order in the prison, to remove a prisoner from general association or structured activity. The detention of a prisoner under this Rule must be reviewed by the Governor every 7 days. Where a prisoner is detained under Rule 62 for more than 21 days, the Governor must, on a weekly basis, submit a report to the Director General requesting an extension on the prisoner’s detention under the Rule. The report to the Director General contains an explanation from the Governor regarding the need for the continued removal of the prisoner from structured activity. This report also contains the views of the prisoner and details of the prisoner’s daily regime including a record that the prisoner has been offered a minimum of 2 hours out of cell time.

Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007 provides that a prisoner may, either at his/her own request, or when the Governor considers it necessary, in so far as is practicable and subject to the maintenance and good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause significant harm to him/her. The number of prisoners on Rule 63 fluctuates daily and the length of time spent on Rule 63 varies greatly as the level of threat and perceived threat changes. Prisoners on Rule 63 may be permitted to mix with other prisoners on Rule 63 in different risk groups and therefore are not considered to be in ‘solitary confinement’. The Governor may also seek to place a prisoner on Rule 63 if information from An Garda Síochána, or other intelligence sources, indicate concerns about safety.

Further to this, a smaller number of prisoners may have their regimes restricted for medical (Rule 64) or for disciplinary reasons (Rule 67). Prisoners placed on a restricted regime for medical reasons are reviewed every 24 hours by the medical team and the Governor.

I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has confirmed that statistics available regarding prisoners on a restricted regime are collated by the Irish Prison Service Statistics Unit and published quarterly on its website (www.irishprisons.ie). This information can be found in the Information Centre under Statistics & Information, Census Reports.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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938. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of complaints made by prisoners regarding alleged discrimination, in the years 2022 to 2024 and to date in 2025; the measures taken by the Irish Prison Service in 2024 and to date in 2025 to prevent discrimination within Irish prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49015/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can inform the Deputy a prisoner complaints system was introduced by the Irish Prison Service in November 2012. The relevant legislation governing prisoner complaints can be found in Rule 57(b) of the Prison Rules, 2007, as amended.

All prisoners have the right to make a complaint at any time and all complaints are treated with the utmost seriousness. Complaints vary in nature and seriousness.

The current system categorises complaints according to their nature and seriousness, ranging from a 'Category A' complaint through to a 'Category F' complaint.

• Category A are complaints alleging assault or use of excessive force against a prisoner, or ill-treatment, racial abuse, discrimination, intimidation, threats or any other conduct against a prisoner of a nature and gravity likely to bring discredit on the Irish Prison Service. Category A complaints are investigated by external independent investigators.
• Category B are complaints of a serious nature, but not falling within any other category of complaint. Examples of Category B complaints could include verbal abuse of prisoners by staff, inappropriate searches or any other conduct against a prisoner of a nature likely to bring discredit to the Irish Prison Service. Category B complaints are investigated by a Chief Officer with recourse to appeal to the Governor.
• Category C complaints are basic service level complaints (complaints about visits, phone calls, reception issues, missing clothes, not getting post on time, not getting appropriate exercise, etc.).
• Category D complaints relate to complaints against all professionals which include medical personal, lawyers, accountants, etc.
• Category E Complaints are complaints made by visitors to the prison.
• Category F complaints are complaints against decisions made by IPS Headquarters in relation to the granting of temporary release and prison transfers.

• Continued delivery of equality, diversity and inclusion training to recruit prison officers as part of the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care, with emphasis on awareness of the nine equality grounds under the Equal Status Acts.
• Development and dissemination of information materials for prisoners to ensure that all are aware of their rights and the complaints process, with a focus on accessibility for those for whom English is not a first language.
• Ongoing work of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit in IPS Headquarters to strengthen policies and support a culture of respect across the prison estate.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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939. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who have been placed in prisons pending their deportation from the State since September 2024, by month and place of detention. [49016/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that there is confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so, within the timeframe issued with the deportation order, is committing a criminal offence and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently, unless revoked – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future.

The enforcement of deportation orders, and the detention of people prior to their removal, is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). If a person has not complied with their requirement to present to GNIB or has not left the State, they may be detained under Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1999 for up to 56 days for the purpose of ensuring their deportation from the State. An application to extend this period of detention must be made to the District Court.

The prescribed places of detention are contained in the Immigration Act 1999 (Deportation) Regulations 2005 and are: Castlerea Prison, Cloverhill Prison, Cork Prison, Limerick Prison, Midlands Prison, Mountjoy Prison, and Wheatfield Prison, as well as all Garda Síochána stations. However, not all of these locations are used for this purpose.

It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. It is important to note that a person can only avail of voluntary return before a deportation order is issued.

My Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 2,846 deportation orders have been signed up to 12 September 2025.

Last year, 1,122 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 254% compared to 2023 (318). This year 1,436 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 12 September 2025.

Data is not collated in the manner requested by the Deputy, however, table 1 below details the number of deportations in 2024 and 2025.

I can advise the Deputy that up to 12 September of this year, there have been 235 enforced deportations (i.e. requiring escort), the majority of these cases have involved periods of detention prior to departure. Of the 106 people removed by charter flight, 84 were held in custody immediately prior to the flight. Any children removed have been returned as part of family units. The children and their mothers were not detained in advance of their removal.

Table 1: Deportations 2024 and 2025

** Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.

1. Otherwise confirmed deportation is where it has been confirmed the individual has left the state following receipt of a deportation order without being escorted.