Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 6

Priority Questions. - Prison Sentences.

Liz O'Donnell

Question:

22 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the estimated additional number of prison spaces which would be required to accommodate sentenced persons if the current policy of allowing prisoners temporary release to create accommodation were ended; her estimate of the average proportion of prison sentence that is actually served; her views on whether prisoners are serving on average no more than 25 per cent of the sentences imposed on them; and if she will make a statement on the crisis of accommodation in the prison system. [2377/97]

Mr. Currie

There were, on 24 January last, a total of 465 prisoners on temporary release. Several of these individuals would have been granted temporary release irrespective of the current shortage of prison accommodation. The plans the Minister has brought forward, and which were approved by the Government in 1996, provide for an accelerated prisons capital building programme to provide more than 800 additional prison places in the period up to the end of 1998.

In excess of 160 additional places under this programme became available in 1996, a further 180 places are scheduled to be completed in the current year, and the remaining 460 new places will become available in 1998. The building programme, when completed, will provide an increase of 35 per cent in the total prison capacity.

Records are not maintained in such a manner as to provide the precise information requested by the Deputy in respect of the average proportion of sentence served in each case. I assure the Deputy, however, that in the case of offenders convicted of serious crimes such as sex offences and those who are considered to pose a real threat in the community such as violent or otherwise dangerous offenders, there is no question of their being granted temporary release to relieve pressure on accommodation.

Ms O'Donnell

Why is it that records are not kept of the length of time prisoners serve in prison, given that their sentences have been handed down in the courts? Surely there is even a manual system of recording when a person enters and exits a jail. Why is the information I requested not available?

What has been the cost to date of the 160 extra prison places which the Minister said have been provided since the so-called accelerated prisons building programme was announced in July?

Mr. Currie

Records are available, but my reply stated that records are not maintained in such a manner as to provide the precise information requested by the Deputy in respect of the average proportion of sentence served in each case.

As far as the other part of her question is concerned, it might be as well to remind the Deputy and the House just how much has been done by this Minister and the Government in providing prison spaces which were not provided by previous administrations. The Minister has brought forward a major prisons building programme for the provision of more than 800 additional prison places. This represents an increase of about 35 per cent on the capacity of 2,150 which existed at the beginning of the year. The new remand prison at Wheatfield for 400 males is due for completion by the end of 1998. There is the main prison for 150 convicted adult male prisoners at Castlerea, County Roscommon. The new wing at Limerick Prison for adult male prisoners is due for completion in October 1997. The new women's prison for 60 females beside Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, is due for completion in early 1998. The Castlerea Prison Unit A, a small separate special unit for up to 40 male prisoners on a site adjoining the main prison at Castlerea, County Roscommon, was to be completed in October 1996 and is now in operation. The Curragh Prison for 70 convicted adult male prisoners was completed in November 1996 and is now in operation. In addition, approximately a further 70 prison places have already been brought into use in existing prisons under this programme. I am not in a position to give the amount of money involved for all of this extension of prison places but very considerable progress is being made and more can be expected.

Ms O'Donnell

What was the cost per unit of the 160 extra prison places to which the Minister referred, which have been provided since July? The Minister said records are not maintained in such a way as would inform the House as to the average length of sentence served by each prisoner. If it is the case that there is a record of when a prisoner enters prison and when he or she is allowed out on full temporary release or for whatever reason, surely that figure could be calculated if there was the political will and the powers that be wanted to release this information. Just as figures are not available to give information as to the number of crimes committed by persons on temporary release, is it not the case that those figures are not available for the inforer mation of the House for a good reason? Is it not true that those figures would make worrying and disturbing reading for members of the public? When I table a question as to the average length of stay of a prisoner in our jails and there are figures on prisoners entering and leaving jail, why is this information not being given to me?

Mr. Currie

If the Deputy wants precise information, she should table precise questions. Where the information is available it will be given and obviously where the information is not available it will not be given, but for the Deputy to suggest there is a lack of political will, political sleight of hand or whatever in answering these questions is absolute nonsense. This Government is proud of what it has done so far in making additional places available in prisons. In comparison with previous administrations, the Government has a very good record indeed so there is no reluctance to disclose the figures.

On the first question, if the Deputy tables a question on the cost per unit, I will do my best to ensure she will get an answer to it.