Bernard J. Durkan
Question:115 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners released without completion of sentences in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15735/00]
Written Answers. - Prisoner Releases.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:116 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of prisoners in each of the prisons at the present time; the degree if any, to which the number of prisoners exceeds prison spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15736/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
I have been advised by the director general of the Irish Prisons Service that statistics are not maintained in such a way as to enable the precise information sought by the Deputy to be readily available. At present the compilation and analysis of statistics must be done manually as there are no computerised systems in most prisons. This is an extremely time consuming and staff intensive process and it has not been possible to release staff for this work.
A new £6 million information technology programme, authorised by me, for the Prisons Ser vice is well advanced. As part of the programme a comprehensive prisoner records database will be deployed across the Prisons Service later this year. This programme will address the lack of accessible information about prisoners, provide management with necessary information and enable the automation of many existing functions.
The director general has informed me, however, that the number of prisoners on unstructured and unsupervised temporary release continues to fall. Some 7% of the total number serving a sentence were on temporary release on Wednesday, 10 May 2000 compared with 19.6% for the same period in 1996. The number of prisoners on unstructured temporary release will continue to fall as further new prison places become available.
The following table gives an analysis of prison population on Tuesday 30 May 2000:
|
Institution |
Design Capacity |
Bed Capacity |
Number in custody |
% of DesignCapacity |
% of Bed Capacity |
|
Mountjoy (m) |
547 |
670 |
678 |
124 |
101 |
|
Mountjoy (f) |
80 |
70 |
73 |
91 |
104 |
|
St Patrick's |
165 |
205 |
193 |
117 |
94 |
|
Cork |
150 |
270 |
270 |
180 |
100 |
|
Limerick (m) |
133 |
200 |
208 |
156 |
104 |
|
Limerick (f) |
12 |
12 |
14 |
117 |
117 |
|
Castlerea |
183 |
182 |
178 |
97 |
98 |
|
Cloverhill |
400 |
400 |
227 |
57 |
57 |
|
Wheatfield |
320 |
368 |
361 |
113 |
98 |
|
Portlaoise |
205 |
231 |
166 |
81 |
72 |
|
Arbour Hill |
138 |
138 |
139 |
101 |
101 |
|
Fort Mitchel |
102 |
102 |
93 |
91 |
91 |
|
Training Unit |
96 |
96 |
91 |
95 |
95 |
|
Curragh |
68 |
94 |
86 |
126 |
91 |
|
Loughan House |
85 |
85 |
65 |
76 |
76 |
|
Shanganagh Castle |
60 |
60 |
37 |
62 |
62 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
58 |
58 |
55 |
95 |
95 |
|
Total |
2,802 |
3,241 |
2,934 |
105 |
91 |
The implementation of the Bail Act, 1997, is expected to lead to an increase in the number in custody on remand by at least 400. In addition the number of prisoners in Mountjoy must be reduced by between 150-200 prisoners to allow the prison to be refurbished wing by wing over a period of four years and to ensure a permanent reduction in overcrowding. The gross overcrowding in Cork Prison must also be eliminated. It was designed to hold 150 offenders but currently holds 270 prisoners.
In addition to the 1,277 spaces being provided under the current prisons building programme, phase 1, I also recently obtained Government approval for 700 extra prison spaces. I believe that all these spaces, when completed, will transform the Irish prison system beyond all recognition.