Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 4

Written Answers. - Prison Committals.

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The information requested in relation to the number of women within the prison system at present, and the way in which that number compares to numbers in each of the past five years, is outlined in the table below:

	1 Feb 2001	1 Feb 2000	1 Feb 1999	2 Feb 1998	3 Feb 1997
Mountjoy	70	66	63	68	42
Limerick	12	15	14	13	13
Total	82	81	77	81	55

My Department provides two centres for the detention of women. The Dóchas centre at Mountjoy Prison which I opened in September 1999 has the capacity to house 70 offenders and Limerick Prison has a 12 place unit. Planning for a new, purpose designed facility for females to replace the existing facilities at Limerick Prison is at an advanced stage. This project will increase the capacity to 24 places. Also, under the provisions of the Children Bill, 1999, separate, dedicated secure detention centres will be required for the accommodation of 16 and 17 year old offenders. In this regard the prison building programme includes provision for a 100 place unit with full support facilities in the Dublin region comprising separate secure detention for up to 20 females in the 16-17 year age group.

The information sought in relation to the average length of time that women serve in prison is not available. At present the compilation and analysis of such statistics must be done manually pending the introduction of a new information technology programme for the Prison Service. This programme is well advanced and is in the process of being deployed throughout the prison service. This will address the lack of accessible information about prisoners and enable the automation of many existing functions. Information will be more easily accessible once this new system is in operation.

It is recognised that the number of female offenders in prison custody has been steadily growing. I am satisfied that there will be appropriate facilities in place for their detention on the completion of this Government's prison building programme.