Prison Security

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 March 2013

Thursday, 21 March 2013

Questions (200)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

200. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners, in total and in each institution, that are locked up for 23 hours or more in a normal day; for 22 to 23 hours in a normal day; for 20 to 22 hours in a normal day and for 18 to 20 hours in a normal day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14612/13]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The information requested by the Deputy is out in the table below.

Protection prisoners are those prisoners considered to be under threat or “at risk” in the general population.This may arise as a result of a request from the prisoner or after consideration by prison management.

Location	Number of prisoners on protection	Number of prisoners on 23 hours lock-up	Number of prisoners on 22-23 hours lock-up	Number of prisoners on 20-22 hours lock-up	Number of prisoners on 18-20 hours lock-up
Arbour Hill	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
Castlerea	54	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
Cloverhill	115	14	NIL	NIL	NIL
Cork	59	NIL	NIL	NIL	11
Dóchas Centre	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
Limerick	46	2	NIL	3	41
Loughan House	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
Midlands	133	10	NIL	NIL	NIL
Mountjoy	118	49	NIL	NIL	NIL
Portlaoise	3	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
St Patrick's Institution	55	44	NIL	1	NIL
Shelton Abbey	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
Training Unit	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
Wheatfield	87	87	NIL	NIL	NIL
Totals	670*	193	NIL	4	52

*421 of the 670 prisoners on protection are not subject to restricted regime and can freely associate with other protection prisoners for lengthy periods of the day. For example, in St Patrick's Institution, 10 of the 55 protection prisoners are not on any form of restricted regime.