Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2011
20 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the specific actions he has taken in response to the reports of prison visiting committees laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38027/11]
View answerThe reports highlighted a number of issues across the prison system but there was also an acknowledgement of the efforts made by the Irish Prison Service to address the issues despite limited resources.
As I outlined in the House last week, several issues have been addressed. These include, for example, increased Library access in the Dóchas Centre; consideration to increasing the number of dedicated phone lines and call queuing to make it easier to pre-book visits in the Midlands Prison; efforts to reduce the number of prisoners on 23 hour lock up in Mountjoy Prison and more structured access to the Library there.
I fully accept that further improvements are needed. This Government remains committed to tackling overcrowding, poor physical conditions in our prisons, and to eliminate where possible the problem of slopping out. An extensive project to upgrade and provide in-cell sanitation to more than 100 cells in Mountjoy Prison will be completed shortly. The Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, recently wrote to me congratulating my Department and the Irish Prison Service on the work carried out.
A similar renovation of B Division will result in 317 cells in Mountjoy Prison having in-cell sanitation by the end of next year, almost 60% of the total prison. The completion of the Midlands Prison extension and the provision of 70 extra dormitory style spaces in the Dóchas Centre will mean that approximately 80% of the prisons estate will have in-cell sanitation by mid 2012.
The World Health Organisation has awarded a "Health in Prisons Best Practice Award 2011" to the recently opened High Support Unit in Mountjoy Prison; and to the Red Cross Project which has been rolled out in Wheatfield, Cloverhill, Shelton Abbey and Mountjoy Prisons.
As regards the specific issues highlighted in the Dóchas Centre in 2010, I am informed that procedures are now in place which respect the dignity of the prisoner and ensure that searches are conducted in a professional manner by the staff involved and I expect those procedures to be fully complied with. A working group has also been established to oversee the implementation of guidelines on prisoner releases to ensure such a situation as that reported by the Committee does not arise in the future.
Finally, I announced plans some time ago to strengthen the independent oversight of our prisons. Under new legislation to be prepared, I intend to make Visiting Committees more effective while they continue their role of visiting prisons, meeting with prisoners, and liaising on their behalf with prison authorities. The arrangements for membership of the Committees will be changed and a link will be established between the Visiting Committees and the Inspector of Prisons.
