Written Answers - Prison Accommodation.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
197
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of cases in respect of which two or more prisoners share a cell in the various prisons throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11226/01]
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
Institution
|
Cell accommodation
|
Mountjoy Prison
|
Twenty double cells, one four man cell, the balance is made up of single cells.
|
St. Patrick's Institution
|
Five triple cells, the balance is made up of single cells.
|
Castlerea Prison
|
Four 4 man cells, 20 double cells, balance is made up of single cells.
|
Cork Prison
|
118 cells are shared by two or more prisoners.
|
Limerick Prison (Male)
|
130 double cells, balance is made up of single cells.
|
Limerick Prison (Female)
|
6 double cells, balance is made up of single cells
|
Wheatfield Place of Detention
|
48 double cells, balance is made up of single cells.
|
The Curragh
|
43 double cells, balance is made up of single cells
|
Portlaoise Prison
|
8 triple cells, 20 double cells, balance is made up of single cells
|
Loughan House
|
39 double rooms, balance is made up of single cells
|
Shelton Abbey
|
Dormitory accommodation provided for all prisoners.
|
Shanganagh Castle
|
Dormitory accommodation provided for all prisoners.
|
Fort Mitchel
|
25 four man cells
|
Training Unit
|
All single cell accommodation
|
Cloverhill Prison
|
120 triple cells and 13 double cells.
|
Midlands Prison
|
9 double cells, balance is made up of single cells.
|
Arbour Hill Prison
|
Fifteen double cells, the balance is made up of single cells
|
Where possible, it is the aim of the Prisons Service to provide for single cell occupancy for all sentenced prisoners. Exceptions are made for some prisoners who actually seek to double-up. They do so especially if they are in prison for the first time. Prisoners may ask to share a cell with a friend or relative in custody and such requests are facilitated where possible. Doubling up may also occur from time to time if there is a concern about the physical-mental health of a prisoner.
When overcrowding was at its height in our prisons, a large number of single cells were converted into multiple occupancy cells. This was necessary in a number of our closed prisons, particularly Mountjoy Prison, Cork Prison, St. Patrick's Institution, Limerick Prison, Wheatfield Place of Detention and the Curragh. St. Patrick's Institution has already reverted to full single cell accommodation.
As part of the ongoing prisons building programme, with 1,207 additional places provided since I took office, it is the intention to revert these cells back to their single cell occupancy status. The provision for a further 700 prison spaces, as part of the next phase of the building programme, will facilitate this.
Question No. 198 answered with Question No. 38.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
199
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of prisoners currently located in each of the prisons throughout the country; the degree to which overcrowding has been alleviated or is ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11228/01]
The following table gives a breakdown of where prisoners were located on 9 April 2001.
Institution
|
Number in custody
|
Mountjoy Prison
|
601
|
Dóchas Centre
|
90
|
St. Patrick's Institution
|
221
|
Cork Prison
|
275
|
Limerick Prison (Male)
|
174
|
Limerick Prison (Female)
|
12
|
Castlerea Prison
|
193
|
Cloverhill Prison
|
368
|
Institution
|
Number in custody
|
Wheatfield
|
355
|
Portlaoise Prison
|
149
|
Arbour Hill Prison
|
130
|
Fort Mitchel
|
99
|
Training Unit
|
90
|
The Curragh
|
99
|
Midlands Prison
|
181
|
Loughan House
|
65
|
Shanganagh Castle
|
27
|
Shelton Abbey
|
25
|
Total
|
3,154
|
Since I took office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have presided over an unprecedented investment in our prison infrastructure. In all, over 1,200 additional prison spaces have been provided with a further 700 closed spaces on the way. The additional spaces already provided have greatly reduced overcrowding and I am hopeful that completion of the prison building programme will eliminate it altogether.
We now have a situation where for the first time in 25 years we 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 have higher than anticipated committal numbers and for whom extra spaces will be provided shortly.
The overall percentage of sentenced prisoners on temporary release has, as a result of the Government's building programme to date, been reduced from 19% in 1997 to a figure of about 6%. It is important to bear in mind also that almost all prisoners on early release are on structured programmes, in many cases under the direct supervision of the probation and welfare service. Those not on structured programmes have been temporarily released for valid compassionate reasons, ill health or family related circumstances.
The impact of this cut in unplanned temporary releases on the level of indictable crime in this jurisdiction is clear and irrefutable. The whole architecture of community sanctions depends on the custodial places being available to ensure that the sanction of last resort can be applied to offenders if they do not avail of the non-custodial options open to them.