Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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461. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the payments made by the Irish Prison Service to podcasts, influencers, or media outlets since 1 January 2020; the recipient in each case; the amount paid; the purpose of the expenditure and the year in which it was made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53851/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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462. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality whether the Irish Prison Service has made any payments to persons (details supplied) since 1 January 2020; and if so, the total amount, the number of payments, the date of each payment; and the procurement basis for each. [53852/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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464. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if any Irish Prison Service payments to podcasts, influencers, or media outlets since 1 January 2020 were made in multiple tranches of under €25,000 each; and if he will clarify whether this practice was used to avoid triggering public tender thresholds. [53854/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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465. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he is satisfied that all Irish Prison Service expenditure on podcasts, influencers, and media outlets since 2020 has complied fully with public procurement law and with the Department’s internal governance requirements; and if he will outline the oversight his Department exercised in approving these expenditures. [53855/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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466. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total expenditure by the Irish Prison Service on consultancy, media services, and public relations between 1 January 2020 and 30 September 2025; if he will provide a breakdown by year; and if he will specify which contracts were subject to open competitive tender. [53856/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 461, 462 and 464 to 466, inclusive, together.

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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463. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the procurement process undertaken in respect of the nearly €25,000 payment by the Irish Prison Service to persons (details supplied); if a formal tender was conducted; and if he will provide the business case or approval note underpinning this expenditure. [53853/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised the Irish Prison Service is seeking to increase staffing levels to meet the current demand on the service.

Recruitment campaigns are put in place as required, and since 2016 the Irish Prison Service, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, has run eight Recruit Prison Officer campaigns. There have been annual campaigns since 2022.

This year the Irish Prison Service aims to recruit 300 prison officers. The 2025 recruitment campaign concluded on 31 July 2025 generating a total of 1,774 applications, up 8% from 1,642 in 2024 which had seen a 17% decrease in applications compared to 2023.

I am informed that the podcast partnership was sourced on a sole supplier basis. The Irish Prison Service state that, at the time of campaign planning, the podcast in question was Ireland’s most listened-to podcast. I am also informed that as part of the planning process, a quotation was sought from an alternative supplier. However, following assessment, the podcast in question was selected on the basis of the audience reach so that he campaign would meet its objectives.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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467. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will request the Comptroller and Auditor General to conduct a detailed review of Irish Prison Service expenditure on media, podcasts, and influencer contracts since 2020. [53858/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Public procurement is governed by EU and national rules and I can assure the Deputy that my Department ensures appropriate procedures are followed for procurement activity. As the Deputy may know, all Government Departments are obliged to ensure that public procurement is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and that contract prices represent best value for money.

Public procurement practices are subject to audit and scrutiny under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993. Procurement is also subject to internal audit within my Department.

In line with the Department of Finance Circular 40/02, my Department makes an annual return to the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) in respect of contracts above the applicable threshold which are awarded without a competitive process. This requirement applies to all procurement. These are detailed in my Department's annual Appropriation Accounts as published by the C&AG, and is subject to scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee.

Any uncompetitive procurements relating to a framework would have been reported as part of this process. My Department’s 2024 submission was submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General earlier this year, with the 2022 and 2023 accounts accessible on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s website.

Separate to reporting under Circular 40/02, Circular 09/24 sets out a new annual reporting requirement relating to the use of centralised procurement arrangements including Office of Government Procurement (OGP) frameworks. Reports will identify any contracts for goods or services, valued more than €143,000 (exclusive of VAT), where a central procurement arrangement has not been used.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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468. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a list of all foreign travel undertaken by senior Irish Prison Service executives since 1 January 2020, including the destination, purpose, number of staff travelling, and total cost to the taxpayer in each case. [53859/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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469. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of single modular housing units provided by the Irish Prison Service since 1 January 2020; the procurement process used for these units; and if he will provide a breakdown of the number of units purchased and their individual costs. [53860/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Prison Service provides a range of accommodation types to assist in the management of sentences, to facilitate appropriate progression, and to support the transition from custody back into their community of people sentenced to a term of imprisonment. There are currently a number of ongoing short, medium and long term projects to be delivered in line with the commitments in the National Development Plan which will provide additional prisoner accommodation.

Over the course of 2024 and 2025, projects were developed and delivered in respect of the construction of single modular units known as “Independent Living Units” at a semi-open area of Castlerea Prison, and at the two open centres at Loughan House and Shelton Abbey.

These projects, as well as delivering urgently needed additional accommodation for the prison estate, also provide accommodation suitable for people sentenced to longer-terms of imprisonment who are preparing for release back into the community. The accommodation assists in preparing such people for living independently following their release, by providing an environment that requires independent living skills, similar to what will be needed outside the prison setting.

These residential unit type accommodation facilities, enable individuals to develop basic life skills such as cooking meals, washing their laundry, cleaning and maintaining a home, while also interacting with others.

They are designed with reference to detailed specifications from the Office of Public Works design criteria and comply with the latest modern building standards, and have a lifespan of an estimated 60 years. They also meet the requirements outlined in the Governments Climate Action Plan 2023.

Total Project Costs include: design consultancy; all site preparation and ancillary works (pedestrian & road access, water, electrical, sewage etc.); security works (CCTV, fencing, etc), and necessary enhancements to the materials specifications.

The procurement process was by way of a competitive tendering process to the Irish Prison Service’s construction frameworks.

I am advised that the total number of single modular units constructed is 24 with 10 at Loughan House, 10 at Shelton Abbey, and 4 at The Grove at Castlerea Prison. The Castlerea project also includes the provision of two three-bedroom semi detached houses, providing shared accommodation for 6 people, resulting in a total of 10 additional spaces at Castlerea Prison.

The final individual VAT exclusive total project costs per unit/prisoner space (please note retention fees still remain to be paid) is estimated as follows:

Loughan House: €430K

Shelton Abbey: €510K

Castlerea Prison The Grove: €382K