Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Mar 2001

Vol. 531 No. 5

Written Answers. - Prison Committals.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

117 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of prisoners remanded in custody and awaiting trial at present; if this represents an increase or decrease over previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6368/01]

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

The following table contains information on the number of persons remanded in custody pending further court appearances on a given day over the past three years.

Date	Total
26 February 2001	442
25 February 2000	369
26 February 1999	356

While this is just a snapshot of the remand prisoner population it clearly shows that the Bail Act, which I brought into operation with effect from 15 May 2000, has led to an increase in the number of those remanded in custody by the courts who are denied bail. I should point out that these figures do not include the significant number of sentenced prisoners who are also held in custody on foot of a court order pending their appearance in court at a future date.

Every effort is made to separate remand prisoners from convicted prisoners. A major development with respect to accommodating remand prisoners has been the opening of the new purpose built remand prison in Cloverhill. I signed a direction designating Cloverhill as a remand institution on 16 May 2000. This facilitated the transfer of remand prisoners from Mountjoy Prison, the largest penal institution in the State. Cloverhill is now the committal remand prison for the greater Dublin and Leinster areas. At full capacity it will cater for up to 406 prisoners. On 26 February 2001, 349 prisoners were in custody there. Castlerea Prison also has a purpose built remand unit where remand prisoners are contained separately from the rest of the prison population.

The second phase of the prison building and refurbishment programme includes the redevelopment of large areas of Cork Prison and large areas of Limerick Prison. The provision of dedicated separate remand facilities will be part of these new projects which will commence later this year.