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Wednesday, 23 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 187 - 195

Drugs in Prisons

Questions (187)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

187. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the amount of drugs seized at each prison here for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3203/13]

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Written answers

The figures requested by the Deputy are set out in the table.

One of the continuing major challenges in prisons today lies in preventing access to contraband items, primarily mobile phones and drugs, which for obvious reasons, are viewed as highly valuable commodities among elements of the prison population. Efforts are made on a continuous basis to prevent the flow of contraband into our prisons, by for example, the installation of nets over exercise yards, vigilant observation of prisoners by staff, enhanced CCTV monitoring, the stricter control of visits and the use of prisoner and random cell searches on a daily basis.

Random searches of cells and their occupants have uncovered significant quantities of contraband in recent years. Nevertheless, the Irish Prison Service recognises that constant improvements are required in this area.

The table illustrates the total number of drugs seized in each prison over the years mentioned by the Deputy. Provisional figures for 2012 show that there were 1,256 seizures of drugs across the institutions. This represents a decrease of almost 11% on 2011 and or a 28% decrease compared with the 2010 figures.

Institution

2010

2011

2012

Arbour Hill

0

2

0

Castlerea

82

97

50

Cloverhill

87

57

78

Cork

52

73

49

Dochas Centre

30

25

35

Limerick

167

216

287

Loughan House

46

21

15

Midlands

90

121

115

Mountjoy

683

387

235

St Patrick's Institution

272

206

219

Portlaoise

41

21

19

Shelton Abbey

26

16

13

Wheatfield

114

147

123

Training Unit

49

28

18

Total

1,739

1,417

1,256

Sentencing Policy

Questions (188)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

188. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the sentencing policy that operates here with regard to those that are convicted of political offences; the policy that operates here that stipulates where male and female prisoners convicted of political offences are to serve their sentences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3251/13]

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Written answers

There is no category of prisoners deemed to be convicted of political offences.

Closed Circuit Television Systems

Questions (189)

David Stanton

Question:

189. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the supports available, if any, from his Department for the provision of CCTV camera systems in towns across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3264/13]

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Written answers

A State supported Community CCTV Scheme was first launched in 2005, with a second round being advertised in 2007. Under the Scheme, two types of grant were available: A pre-development grant of up to €5,000 to assist local communities to develop proposals for a CCTV system and a substantive grant of up to €100,000 to assist with the capital cost of establishing a Community CCTV system.

In all, 54 community schemes were awarded pre-development grants and a total of 45 schemes were awarded substantive grants.

The current position is that all available funding provided under the previous two rounds has been fully allocated and there are currently no plans to further extend the Scheme. However, the matter will continue to be kept under ongoing review in the context of overall policy considerations and the availability of funding.

Citizenship Applications

Questions (190)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

190. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average length of time it is taking to process an application for naturalisation within the Irish Nationalisation and Immigration Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3268/13]

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Written answers

When I came into office in March 2011 one of my immediate priorities was to address the large backlog of citizenship applications for naturalisation pending a decision that had built up over several years. At that time there were approximately 22,000 applications awaiting decision, many of which had been waiting for 2-3 years or longer.

Over the past 22 months there has been a major improvement in the position, notwithstanding a significant increase in the volume of valid applications received which has increased from 12,500 in 2010 to 19,900 in 2012 – an increase of almost 60%. More than 43,000 decisions on naturalisation applications have been made since I came into office with some 25,000 certificates for naturalisation issued last year alone. It is my intention that we will continue to build on this success over the coming year an in this regard, nearly 6,000 valid applications have been decided to date this year.

Considerable resources continue to be deployed to process applications. In such a rapidly changing environment where the focus continues to be on processing as many applications as quickly as possible, the value of allocating resources to calculating average processing times that in any event are changing constantly, is greatly diminished.

The Deputy will also be aware that alongside the improvements in processing, in June 2011, I introduced formal citizenship ceremonies for the first time since the foundation of the State. The ceremonies, which are being met with universal approval, allow candidates for citizenship make their declaration of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State and receive their certificate of naturalisation in a meaningful and dignified manner which befits the importance and solemnity of the occasion.

Courts Service Issues

Questions (191, 192, 193)

Brendan Smith

Question:

191. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of Ballyconnell District Court, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3393/13]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

192. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of Virginia District Court, County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3394/13]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

193. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that there will be no change to the status of Clones District Court, County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3395/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 to 193, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and have been informed that the Courts Service has been reviewing all aspects of its organisational and operational structures throughout the country with the specific objective of ensuring that the Service can continue to maintain the delivery of front line court services and an appropriate level of service to court users. I understand that no court venue has been singled out for or indeed exempted from the review and that Ballyconnell, Virginia and Clones District Courts have been identified as venues to be considered for closure subject to a detailed assessment and the preparation of a business case.

In this context the Courts Service has established a general framework within which such venues are being assessed taking into account a range of criteria such as caseload, proximity to an alternative venue, physical condition of the building, availability of cells etc. The likely impact on other Justice agencies, such as An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service, is also taken into account. The review identified a range of venues nationwide which, based on the criteria applied, could be considered for closure subject to a detailed assessment and the preparation of a business case in respect of each identified venue which has now commenced.

However, the Courts Service has assured me that no decision in relation to the future of Ballyconnell, Virginia and Clones District Courts will be taken without prior consultation with local interested parties and court users. This consultation has commenced and the views received will be taken into account in the decision making process which will be a matter for the Courts Service Board.

Prison Accommodation

Questions (194, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

194. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the capacity the new prison in Cork will have; the assessments that have been carried out of the need in Cork, in view of the potential of alternatives to prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3447/13]

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Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

196. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if single-cell accommodation will be the norm in the new prison in Cork, in line with the European Prison Rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3449/13]

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Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

197. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the visiting facilities that will be provided at the new prison in Cork. [3450/13]

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Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

198. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if remand prisoners will be separated from sentenced prisoners in the new prison in Cork. [3451/13]

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Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

199. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the medical facilities, educational facilities and training facilities that will be available in the new building in Cork prison. [3452/13]

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Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the plans the Irish Prison Service has for the old Cork Prison building and if this may be used for services or to provide low security accommodation options to prisoners. [3453/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 196 to 200, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy is aware it is proposed to construct a new prison in Cork on a site adjacent to the existing prison facility there.

The new facility in Cork will be built on a site immediately adjacent to the existing prison and will house 275 prisoners and have a maximum capacity of 310 prisoners. Prior to giving my approval for the project to proceed, the need for the new prison and the alternatives to constructing it were fully considered by my Department following submission to me of a business case prepared by the Irish Prison Service. The Deputy will know that although there are many alternatives to prison there will always be a need for prison accommodation.

I am advised that the cells in the new facility, which will be double occupancy cells, will be approximately 12m², have full in-cell sanitation and showering facilities and will be fully compliant with the standards for double occupancy as set down by the Inspector of Prisons. I am further advised that it is the intention of the Irish Prison Service to separate remand and sentenced prisoners in the new prison proposed for Cork.

The new facility will have a modern visiting area which will, in so far as is practicable, accommodate visitors and prisoners in a relaxed atmosphere that will lend itself well to bringing children in to visit family members who are imprisoned in Cork. Equally, the medical, educational and training facilities will allow for the provision of appropriate medical and rehabilitative programmes for prisoners.

In relation to the future of the existing prison, I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it will be "mothballed" i.e. it will be kept secure and maintained until a feasibility study has been completed and a decision on its future is taken as part of the next Capital Expenditure Plan for the Irish Prison Service.

For the project to proceed, development consent will have to be secured from the Oireachtas, in accordance with the provisions of Part 4 of the Prisons Act 2007, in due course. This will require me to move a draft resolution in both Houses of the Oireachtas under Section 26 of the Prisons Act which, if approved, will be confirmed by an Act of the Oireachtas.

Prisoner Rehabilitation Programmes

Questions (195)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

195. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures the Irish Prison Service and probation service have taken to enhance alternatives to prison and supports for released prisoners in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3448/13]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that I published a strategy entitled "Unlocking Community Alternatives – a Cork Approach" in February 2012. The strategy comprises two essential elements:

- firstly exploring the feasibility of replacing the existing prison through the construction of a new prison with all related and support ancillary services, on the adjacent prison car park site and

- secondly the enhancement of sentence management, prisoner interventions and structured release of suitably risk assessed prisoners into the community on a multi-agency approach basis. Arising from the publication of the Strategy the Irish Prison Service in co-operation with the Probation Service, statutory and non-statutory community based services set up a Cork based implementation team to progress the Strategy and to develop robust community based programmes which could act as alternatives to custody.

In December 2012, a joint Irish Prison Service/Probation Service Initiative was introduced which specifically aims at providing supports to prisoners immediately before and during the critical period after their release. The primary aims and goals of this Scheme are to (a) reduce the current recidivism rates by arranging for additional support structures and (b) provide for a more structured form of temporary release. It is anticipated that over 160 prisoners will benefit from this initiative in 2013.

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