Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Mar 2001

Vol. 531 No. 5

Written Answers. - Prisoner Releases.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners who in the past 12 months were released without having served their full sentence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6369/01]

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

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 and as this is an extremely time-consuming and staff intensive process it has not been possible to release staff for this work.

A new information technology programme, authorised by me, for the Prisons Service is well advanced. As part of the programme a comprehensive prisoner records database is currently being deployed across the Prisons Service. This programme will address the lack of accessible information about prisoners, provide management with necessary information and enable the automation of many existing functions.

While I am unable to provide the precise statistics requested, I am, however, pleased to inform the House that the number of prisoners on temporary release has continued to fall. Of the total number serving a prison sentence on Monday, 26 February 2001, only 6% were on temporary release. This figure compares with 19% in October 1996. 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. The one exception to this is the female prisoner population for which there continues to be a shortfall in prison accommodation during peak court periods. However, this shortfall will also be addressed as the prison building programme is completed.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

119 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which prisoners serving sentences for serious offences are allowed unsupervised day or other release and release under supervision; the number of such prisoners granted such facilities; and the circumstances under which such facilities were granted in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6370/01]

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

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 February 2001. The actual number on temporary release has fallen from a daily average of 550 in October 1996, to less than 200 in February 2001.

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.

Temporary release arrangements are in effect our system of parole which is a feature of prison systems worldwide. Paroles are an important vehicle for re-integrating an offender into the community in a planned way. While due regard must be had to any risk which a particular release might pose, the generally accepted view is that the risk to the community would be even greater if, in certain cases, attempts at planned re-integration of offenders were not made since they must return to the community anyway on the expiration of their sentence.

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 unfortunately 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 key change in the last 12 months is that 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 this statement 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.

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 1,200 additional prison spaces have been provided with a further 700 closed spaces on the way.