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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 1

Written Answers. - Prisoner Releases.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

161 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has made or will make changes in respect of unsupervised day release for prisoners with particular reference to the need to ensure that no crimes are committed by prisoners on such release; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3371/01]

Since I became Minister in 1997, I have presided over an unprecedented investment in the prison infrastructure which has virtually eliminated the unplanned release of offenders. In all over 1200 additional prison spaces have been provided with a further 700 closed spaces on the way. The prison system has reached the stage where it can accommodate almost all those sentenced by the Courts for the full duration of their sentences. I qualify these statements only by reference to the female prison population where we currently have higher than anticipated committal numbers and for whom extra spaces will be built shortly.

As a direct consequence of the ongoing prison building programme, there has been a significant reduction in the proportion of temporary release of the total number of persons serving sentences from 19% in October 1996 to 6% in January 2001. The actual number on temporary release has fallen from a daily average of 550 in October 1996 to less than 200 in January, 2001. These figures offer incontrovertible proof that I have decisively addressed the chaotic prisoner management situation which I inherited on taking office in 1997.

Almost all prisoners on early release at present are on structured programmes, in many cases under the direct supervision of the probation and welfare service. Many of those not on structured programmes have been temporarily released for valid compassionate reasons, ill health or family related circumstances.

Before granting temporary release careful consideration is given to a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offence, previous record, behaviour in custody, length of sentence served, and any compassionate grounds which merit special consideration. The overriding concern when decisions are being made in individual cases, is the safety of the public. It is unfor tunately the case that, despite the most careful assessment being made in advance, certain individuals will tend to breach the trust that has been placed in them and will re-offend. Other jurisdictions, sadly, have similar experiences.
When temporary release is granted it is always subject to the condition that the person released must be of good behaviour. Various other conditions may also apply. For example the individual concerned may be subject to supervision by the probation and welfare service, he or she may be required to report at regular intervals to a Garda station, or to reside at a particular location and so on. If any conditions are breached the individual concerned can be immediately returned to custody without the need for fresh proceedings.
The probation and welfare service are now involved in over 50 community based projects around the country, the overall aim of which is to assist in the rehabilitation of offenders and reduce re-offending. The following is a range of the community based projects funded by my Department: drugs aftercare recovery group; alcohol treatment for offenders before the courts; youth service projects; community reparation project; offender-victim mediation project.
Further such projects will continue to be developed in co-operation with the probation and welfare service and under the national development plan. The budget for the service has increased to over £25 million which is a 100% increase on the provision for this area since I became Minister in 1997.
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