Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Jul 1995

Vol. 455 No. 4

Written Answers. - Temporary Release of Prisoners.

Ivor Callely

Question:

118 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners on temporary release in June 1995; the average number of prisoners on release over the past six months; if she has satisfied herself with the fact that some of the temporary releases were not solely to address the problem of overcrowding in our prisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12189/95]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The daily average number of prisoners who were on temporary release during June 1995 and the six month period ending 30 June 1995 was 493 and 518 respectively.

For some years now decisions to grant compassionate releases from prison have been influenced by pressure on accommodation. The overriding concern, however, when decisions are being made in individual cases is the safety of the public. Early releases are largely granted to offenders serving relatively short sentences, or who are near the end of longer sentences.

Prisoners are in many cases granted temporary release for positive humanitarian reasons. These include such occasions as illnesses of near relatives and bereavements, christenings and first communions of children, employment interviews, or to help with the resocialisation programmes in the case of longer-term offenders.

Daily release to employment is frequently allowed for an offender towards the end of his-her sentence. There must be reasonable grounds for expecting that the offender will be well conducted and the availability of suitable employment is an important factor. Full temporary release whereby the offender lives outside the prison at home, in a hostel or in lodgings is a further phase to which a prisoner on day to day release for employment may progress.

Temporary release may be granted for different periods of time, as appropriate ranging from a few hours to weekly renewable temporary release.