Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004
237 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he will take to ensure that the negotiated and agreed criteria for compassionate parole is fully adhered to when requests are received from the autonomous republic prisoners unit based on the two main landings at Portlaoise Prison; if confusion on this issue will be clarified with the prisoners concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18459/04]
View answerThe Deputy's question contains a number of assumptions which are incorrect. For the purpose of clarity the factual position is as follows. No Irish Government has ever negotiated or agreed compassionate parole criteria with any group of prisoners or with representatives or emissaries acting on behalf of any group of prisoners. It is vital to stress that there has never been any automatic entitlement to temporary release for any prisoner for any reason, regardless of whether he or she belongs to a particular grouping of prisoners. The facts of the matter are that each application for temporary release on compassionate grounds is judged on its merits.
I am at a loss as to what the Deputy means by the phrase "autonomous republic prisoners unit". There are no autonomous units within Irish prisons. All prisons and places of detention managed by the Irish Prison Service are subject to the rules for the government of prisons.
238 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the details of the cost of affording telephone call facilities to prisoners in each place of detention in the year 1 January to 31 December 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18496/04]
View answerThe following is an estimate of the cost to the Irish Prison Service of telephone calls made by prisoners for the period January to December 2003, to the nearest €1,000 and excluding VAT. A significant proportion of these calls relate to contact with prisoners legal advisers as they prepare to face upcoming criminal trials.
The importance of prisoners maintaining contact with family and friends in the community must also be taken into account. Telephone facilities for prisoners have been consistently recommended by experts as a measure to assist in rehabilitation and prevent suicide and self-injury generally.
|
Prison |
2003 |
|
€ |
|
|
Mountjoy Prison (Male) |
65,000 |
|
Mountjoy Female Prison (Dóchas Centre) |
12,000 |
|
St. Patrick’s Institution |
29,000 |
|
Training Unit Place of Detention |
12,000 |
|
Cloverhill Prison |
102,000 |
|
Wheatfield Prison |
102,000 |
|
Cork Prison |
56,000 |
|
Limerick Prison |
36,000 |
|
Fort Mitchell Place of Detention |
17,000 |
|
Midlands Prison |
123,000 |
|
Curragh Place of Detention |
5,000 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
23,000 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
16,000 |
|
Loughan House Place of Detention |
6,000 |
|
Shelton Abbey Place of Detention |
3,000 |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
3,000 |
|
Total Estimated Cost (ex. VAT) |
610,000 |
