Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 March 2013
203. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of prisoners on remand in each prison; particularly the numbers of women prisoners and 17 year olds at St Patrick's Institution Dublin; the breakdown of offences with which they are charged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14615/13]
View answer204. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of the regime, that is, educational, psychological and other supports, to which the remand prisoners have access; the details of the gratuity to which remand prisoners are entitled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14616/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
The percentage of prisoners on trial/remand in each prison as at 28 February 2013 is set out in the table below.
|
- |
Number on Trial/Remand |
Number in Custody |
% |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
2 |
143 |
1.4 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
73 |
363 |
20.1 |
|
Cloverhill Remand Prison |
329 |
443 |
74.3 |
|
Cork Prison |
40 |
239 |
16.7 |
|
Limerick Prison (Female) |
3 |
29 |
10.3 |
|
Limerick Prison (Male) |
40 |
217 |
18.4 |
|
Midlands Prison |
23 |
684 |
3.4 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (Female) |
21 |
123 |
17.1 |
|
Mountjoy Prison (Male) |
2 |
544 |
0.4 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
8 |
262 |
3.1 |
|
St. Patrick's Institution (17 years old) |
9 |
26 |
34.6 |
|
St. Patrick's Institution (18 to 21 year olds) |
15 |
164 |
9.1 |
|
Wheatfield Prison |
31 |
707 |
4.4 |
|
Total |
596 |
3,944 |
15.1 |
The breakdown of offences they are charged with is set out in the table below.
|
- |
Total |
|
Homicide Offences |
27 |
|
Sexual Offences |
36 |
|
Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments and Related Offences |
64 |
|
Dangerous or Negligent Acts |
10 |
|
Kidnapping and Related Offences |
2 |
|
Robbery, Extortion and Hijacking Offences |
14 |
|
Burglary and Related Offences |
58 |
|
Theft and Related Offences |
102 |
|
Fraud, Deception and Related Offences |
10 |
|
Controlled Drug Offences |
111 |
|
Weapons and Explosives Offences |
31 |
|
Damage to Property and the Environment |
20 |
|
Public Order and Social Code Offences |
31 |
|
Road and Traffic Offences |
16 |
|
Offences against Government, Justice Procedures and Organisation of Crime |
45 |
|
Offences Not Elsewhere Classified |
19 |
|
Total |
596 |
The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes that include education, vocational training, health care, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. There are currently remand prisoners in 11 of the 14 prisons. This range of programmes is available across the prison estate and all prisoners, both sentenced and remand, are eligible to use the services. On committal, all prisoners are interviewed by the Governor and are informed of the services available in the prison. At this point prisoners may be referred to services or they can self refer at a later date. Where Governors consider, on the information available, that a prisoner needs a particular intervention they will initiate a referral.
Remand prisoners are entitled to the same rates of daily gratuity as sentenced prisoners. There are 3 daily rates 95 cent, €1.70 and €2.20 depending on the behaviour and engagement of the prisoner. Prisoners who engage in certain prison work activities, e.g. kitchen, are entitled to 50 cent per half day session. There is no restriction on remand prisoners engaging in prison work activities.
In relation to Cloverhill Prison, which is the largest remand prison, given the transitory nature of the prisoners it is not practical to provide the full range of long-term programmes that is available to sentenced prisoners in other prisons. There is a small education unit which currently has an enrolment of about 110 prisoners. Work training activities are provided in the kitchen, laundry, industrial cleaning and grounds maintenance and has a capacity in excess of 40 prisoners. Cloverhill has a dedicated forensic in-reach and court liaison service consisting of a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Registrars and Community Mental Health Nurses. All these programmes and facilities are available to both sentenced and remand prisoners.
