asked the Minister for Justice if he will define the purpose of what is commonly known as the "Base" in Mountjoy Prison, Dublin; who is there at present and for what reasons; and the daily average number of prisoners in the "Base".
Written Answers. - Dublin Prisons.
350.
The area of Mountjoy Prison known as the "B Base" is the bottom floor of B wing. It is not a basement and the cell windows are above ground level. The area has facilities for work and recreation including table games, television and films. Prisoners there take their outdoor exercise in a yard adjacent to the area. Because the area is cut off from the remainder of the prison it is used to accommodate:
(a) prisoners who require a very high level of custody; (b) persons who are at risk of attack by other prisoners because of their nationality, political affiliations or the nature of their crimes; (c) persons who have shown themselves willing to create disturbances and to incite other prisoners to riot; (d) persons who have seriously transgressed prison regulations who have as a result been deprived of privileges and who may be disruptive.
There were 12 prisoners in the "B Base" on 26 January 1978. It would be contrary to normal practice to name these prisoners as to do so would be an invasion of their privacy. The daily average number of prisoners in the "B Base" for the past three months was 11.
351.
asked the Minister for Justice the present number of prisoners in the adult male prison, Mountjoy, Dublin; and the number of prisoners employed in each of the prison industries.
The number of male offenders in Mountjoy on 26 January 1978 was 435.
On that date 12 offenders were outside the prison attending courts and 35 were receiving medical attention and were not available for work. There were 39 untried persons in the prison and they are not required to work.
The remaining 349 offenders were employed as follows:
|
Industry |
Number Employed |
|
Woodcutting |
57 |
|
Cleaning |
56 |
|
Carpentry |
43 |
|
Mat making |
42 |
|
Working with trades staff in general maintenance |
27 |
|
Mailbag making |
27 |
|
Tailoring |
24 |
|
Leathercraft |
22 |
|
Shoemaking |
21 |
|
Kitchen work |
11 |
|
Baking |
9 |
|
Painting |
4 |
|
Upholstery |
4 |
|
Gardening |
1 |
|
Van deliveries |
1 |
352.
asked the Minister for Justice the present number of prisoners in St. Patrick's Juvenile Institution, Dublin; and the number of prisoners employed in each of the prison industries.
The total number of offenders in St. Patrick's Institution on 26 January 1978 was 185. On that date ten offenders were attending court, four were receiving medical attention and were not available for work and 30— of the total of 77 who are receiving formal education—were attending classes. There were 20 untried persons in the institution and they are not required to work.
The remaining 121 offenders were employed as follows:
|
Working with Trade Staff on General Maintenance |
29 |
|
Cleaning |
28 |
|
Woodcutting |
21 |
|
Carpentry |
13 |
|
Catering |
8 |
|
Tailoring |
7 |
|
Painting |
5 |
|
Plumbing and Electrical |
4 |
|
Gardening |
3 |
|
Motor Repairs |
3 |
353.
asked the Minister for Justice if there is a punishment section in St. Patrick's Juvenile Prison, Dublin, and, if so, if he will state (a) who is there at present; (b) for what reasons, and (c) the daily average number of prisoners there.
There is no punishment section in St. Patrick's Institution.
354.
asked the Minister for Justice the number of female prisoners in the women's prison, Mountjoy, Dublin.
There were six prisoners in custody in Mountjoy Women's Prison on 26 January 1978.
355.
asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of prisoners receiving formal education in the male adult prison, Mountjoy, Dublin, (b) the range of subjects available, and (c) the number of full-time qualified teachers seconded to Mountjoy.
(a) 40; (b) Remedial English, General English, Mathematics, Arts and Crafts; (c) two full-time and two part-time.
A serious limiting factor in Mountjoy Prison has been the lack of schoolroom accommodation. In the very near future I hope to bring additional class-rooms into use which will enable up to 100 prisoners altogether to be accommodated. Attendance at educational classes is voluntary and it is unlikely that the demand for classroom places will exceed that number by very much, if at all.
It should also be borne in mind that Arbour Hill Prison and the training unit cater mainly for prisoners transferred there from Mountjoy Prison. In these places, a total of about 55 prisoners attend formal education classes conducted by four full-time and two part-time teachers—17 other prisoners in the training unit receive some formal classroom instruction as part of their industrial training programmes, which are conducted by four specialist instructors.
356.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will give a detailed description of the range of recreational facilities available in the adult male and female prisons, Mountjoy, Dublin, and in the juvenile prison, St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin.
Football is played in the recreation yards of each of the institutions and handball is played in the male institutions. In the indoor recreation rooms radios and colour televisions, table tennis and billiards/snooker tables, playing cards, chess, draughts, scrabble, monopoly and ringboards are among the facilities provided. Film shows are provided at weekly intervals.
Competitions are organised at intervals to encourage an interest in indoor and outdoor sports. A football team from St. Patrick's plays against teams from schools, colleges and youth centres. Some youths from that institution use local indoor swimming pools on Sundays. Libraries, stocked by City of Dublin Public Libraries, are maintained in each prison and place of detention.
357.
asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of prisoners receiving formal education in St. Patrick's Institution, Dublin, (b) the range of subjects available, and (c) the number of full-time qualified teachers seconded to St. Patrick's
Seventy seven boys are receiving formal education in St. Patrick's Institution at present. The following subjects are taught there: Remedial English, General English, History, Geography, Civics, Mathematics, Science, Art, Metalwork, Craftwork and Mechanical Drawing.
There are six full-time qualified teachers in St. Patrick's and four part-time qualified teachers.