I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 181 and 182 together.
It is not possible to provide the precise information sought by the Deputy in the time available. However, the daily average number of persons on temporary release over the past 12 months was approximately 516. In 1994, the latest year for which accurate figures are available, 3,733 individuals were granted full temporary, or early, release and 217 were discharged from custody on a renewable temporary release scheme. Exact figures for later years are not yet available.
The granting of temporary or early release — called parole in other jurisdictions — is a feature of prison systems internationally and has been operated under statute in this country since 1960 by successive Ministers for Justice. The positive and negative reasons for the system have been well debated in this House before.