Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 8

Written Answers. - Temporary Release of Prisoners.

Ivor Callely

Question:

80 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the number of early release prisoners signing on in each prison on a weekly basis; the number of vacant places in each prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10641/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Approximately, 500 offenders on renewable temporary release sign on in any one week throughout the prison service. It is not possible to give an exact weekly figure of offenders signing on in each prison as the number changes daily with some offenders being granted full temporary release, some having their temporary release revoked and others commencing periods of temporary release.

The majority of those signing on do so on a weekly basis but some must do so on a three-day, fortnightly or monthly basis. It is important to distinguish between renewable temporary release, under which the offender must report back regularly to the prison and full temporary release, under which there is no obligation to return.

Overall, the prison service operates at or above capacity. For example, on Tuesday, 21 May 1996 the occupancy rate was over 99 per cent of the maximum prison capacity. Most prisons and places of detention operate from day to day without any vacancies. The exceptions would be Portlaoise Prison, where it is necessary for operational reasons to leave some cells vacant and some open centres which from time to time, due to the lack of availability of suitable offenders, may have some vacancies.

Ivor Callely

Question:

81 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the total number of convicted prisoners that availed of early releases due to lack of prison place accommodation in 1995; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10642/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The granting of temporary or early release — called parole in other jurisdictions — is a feature of prison systems internationally. I have outlined the positive reasons for it in the past, as have my predecessors.

It is the case that some early releases arise in the context of accommodation problems, but it would be totally wrong to suggest that it was the sole reason for early releases generally. It would certainly be wrong to imply that serious offenders are being released simply because of accommodation problems and without reference to other criteria which are normally taken into account in assessing offenders' cases generally. While a shortage of places could and does tip the balance in favour of early release in some cases, I am not in a position to put a figure on the number of cases involved.

The overriding concern when decisions are being made in individual cases, is the safety of the public. In cases where pressure on prison accommodation may be a factor, any early releases which may be authorised are generally limited to offenders who are serving relatively short sentences or who are near the end of longer sentences.