(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Justice the total number of prisoners serving sentences at present; and the total number on remand.
19.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prisoner Statistics.
18.
(Dublin Central) asked the Minister for Justice the total inmate capacity of jails in the Republic at present.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.
In the closed prisons at present in use the total number of cells is 857 single and 19 three-man cells. St. Patrick's Institution for juvenile offenders has 217 single and four three-man cells. The open centre for adults at Shelton Abbey can accommodate 38 persons and the open centres for juveniles 99.
Arbour Hill Prison and the new training unit will become operational this year. The former has 101 cells and the latter will be capable of accommodating 96.
On 4th February there were 747 persons under sentence and 76 on remand in the institutions for adults and 247 under sentence and 22 on remand in the institutions for juveniles.
(Dublin Central): Can the Minister indicate whether this is an increase or a decrease?
I am sorry, I have not got the previous figures. Prison population fluctuates from time to time. I have not got the figures but I will give them to the Deputy for the same date last year.
Is any progress being made towards the provision of an intensive care unit——
That is a separate matter.
——for juvenile delinquents who are at present——
This cannot be permitted. It is a separate question.
The matter is under consideration by a task force set up by the Tánaiste.
Question No. 20.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission may I raise the subject matter on the Adjournment of the Minister's statement issued through the Government Information Services last night and if the Ceann Comhairle considers that too wide, and it was a very wide statement, would he allow me to raise a particular part of it, any part but particularly the part relating to the alleged threat to the lives of members of the Government? As an alternative to either of those two, due to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply to Question No. 17, would he allow that matter to be raised on the Adjournment?
I will communicate with the Deputy on the matter.