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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 8

Written Answers. - Prisoners' Temporary Release.

John O'Donoghue

Question:

186 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners granted early or full-time temporary release from each Irish prison and place of detention in 1996 and to date in 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6306/97]

The number of individuals granted varying periods of short-term temporary release has averaged about 4,000 a year for the last five years. In 1993, the latest year for which accurate figures are available, the number was 4,212. In that year, 3,564 individuals were granted full temporary release. I must stress that one cannot simply add these two figures together to arrive at a total number of individuals who obtained some form of temporary release in that year as there would be a significant overlap of individuals between the two groups e.g. a prisoner may have received a day's temporary release to attend a funeral and subsequently been given full temporary release later in the year. This prisoner would be counted in both sets of figures. Figures are not kept in such a way as to readily give the exact extent of this overlap.

Exact figures for 1996 and 1997 are not yet available. However, indications are that the number of full temporary releases granted is about the same as 1993 i.e. 4,000 per year and approximately 4,500 individuals would be granted varying periods of short-term temporary release in the course of any one year. Again, there would be a significant overlap of individuals between these two groups. I will, of course, be happy to let the Deputy have the exact information for 1996 and 1997 as it becomes available.

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