Written Answers Nos. 221-229
221. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide the latest information on the implementation of the cell share risk assessment tool proposed as part of the Irish Prison Service's three year strategic plan; the location at which it is currently operational; if he will provide provide a copy of the policy document on cell share risk assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23342/13]
View answerI am to advise the Deputy that policy on the placement of prisoners in shared accommodation is being developed as part of a comprehensive Standard Operational Policy on Committal Procedures in the Irish Prison Service. This is part of the Irish Prison Service's Three Year Strategic Plan 2012-2015. It is hoped the policy will be implemented by the end of 2013.
222. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the successful implementation of the proposed structured community return programmes for offenders as outlined in the Irish Prison Service's three year strategic plan 2012-2015 is reliant on IPS staff accepting the latest public sector pay conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23343/13]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the implementation of the Community Return Programme is not reliant on Irish Prison Service Staff accepting the latest public sector pay conditions in the proposed Public Service Agreement.
The community Return Programme, which was first piloted in 2011, has been rolled out nationally across all prisons. Almost 500 prisoners have taken part in the initiative since it commenced with 316 prisoners now having completed the programme. There were 131 prisoners on Community Return on 13 May this year, which was the highest total at one time since the Programme commenced. Compliance has been almost 90%; and the 10% who did not comply with the terms and conditions of their release on Community Return were re-committed to prison immediately to serve the rest of their sentence in custody. The Community Return Programme has been a really positive development, and as well as allowing prisoners to complete their sentence by way of performing a service to the community, has significantly helped these prisoners to successfully resettle in their communities.
223. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the date on which he expects the following strategies to be published: strategy for older prisoners, strategy for women prisoners, strategy for young prisoners, strategy for sex offenders and when he expects the strategy for prisoners requiring protection will be published; the extent to which the new assessment procedures will be catering for prisoners requiring protection; when this procedure will be operational in each prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23344/13]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I published the Irish Prison Service Strategic Plan 2012-2015 in April last year. The progress report on the Year 1 Implementation Plan of this Strategy forms part of the recently published Irish Prison Service Annual Report for 2012.
The Strategic Plan includes a number of Strategic Actions one of which (Strategic Action 3: Prisoner Programmes) includes a commitment that the Irish Prison Service will, in conjunction with other key stakeholders, devise specific strategies for younger prisoners, women, older prisoners, sex offenders, protection prisoners, violent offenders and those suffering from mental illness. Work on the development of these strategies is underway and they will be implemented over the lifetime of the Strategic Plan.
The Strategy also commits the Prison Service to introducing appropriate assessment procedures to inform their prisoner placement policy to ensure that prisoners are accommodated appropriate to their security status. I am advised by my officials that the roll-out of the various assessment tools is well under way and that the target of completion by 2015 will be met.
It is at the committal stage that the majority of prisoners are identified as being in need of protection. In many instances, the prisoner will identify himself as being in need of same and in other instances, either intelligence or the assessment of the governor will identify a prisoner as requiring protection.
224. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the bed capacity of each prison in March 2012, December 2012, February 2013, March 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23345/13]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the bed capacity of each prison on the dates requested are set out in the table.
|
Institution |
Bed Capacity |
Bed Capacity |
Bed Capacity |
Bed Capacity |
|
1st March 2012 |
1st December 2012 |
1st February 2013 |
1st March 2013 |
|
|
Mountjoy (Male) |
590 |
590 |
540 |
540 |
|
Mountjoy (Female) |
105 |
105 |
105 |
105 |
|
Training Unit |
127 |
127 |
116 |
116 |
|
St. Patrick’s |
217 |
217 |
217 |
191 |
|
Cloverhill |
431 |
431 |
431 |
431 |
|
Wheatfield |
670 |
700 |
700 |
680 |
|
Midlands |
616 |
636 |
900 |
870 |
|
Portlaoise |
311 |
291 |
291 |
291 |
|
Cork |
250 |
250 |
210 |
210 |
|
Limerick (Male) |
260 |
260 |
220 |
220 |
|
Limerick (Female) |
34 |
34 |
34 |
28 |
|
Castlerea |
351 |
351 |
351 |
351 |
|
Arbour Hill |
148 |
148 |
142 |
142 |
|
Loughan House |
160 |
140 |
140 |
140 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
110 |
115 |
115 |
115 |
|
Totals |
4,380 |
4,395 |
4,512 |
4,430 |
The bed capacities of prisons can change due to a number of different factors. In some cases the capacities can increase due to the opening of new prisoner accommodation as was the case in Midlands Prison at the end of 2012 when the capacity increased from 636 to 900 following the opening of a new 179 cell accommodation block.
Similarly, the capacity of a prison can be reduced temporarily due to the closure of a wing or landing as is the current case in Mountjoy Prison where the capacity has been reduced with the closure of the A Wing for refurbishment and Wheatfield where the bed capacity decreased by 20 spaces to facilitate the development of a committal unit.
As the Deputy is aware and as outlined in the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan, it is the intention of the Irish Prison Service to seek to align the capacity of our prisons with the guidelines laid down by the Inspector of Prisons, in so far as this is compatible with public safety and the integrity of the criminal justice system.
In 2012 and in the first quarter of this year, priority has been given to reducing the chronic overcrowding in Mountjoy, Cork, Limerick Prisons and the Dóchas Centre. A new prisoner accommodation block in the Midlands Prison, which opened in December last year, has allowed the Prison Service to reduce the capacity and the number in custody in both Cork and Limerick Prison. In addition, the opening of a new 20 space accommodation block, which was formerly used as an administration building, has helped alleviate the overcrowding being experienced in the Dochas Centre.
225. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown on a yearly basis of the legal and travel costs his Department has incurred as a result of litigation in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the General Court in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from the years 2005 to 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23310/13]
View answerThe Department of Defence has not incurred any legal or travel costs as a result of litigation in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, the General Court in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg from the years 2005 to 2012. The Chief State Solicitor's Office and the State Claims Agency deal with all legal matters on behalf of the Department. It is usual for the Department of Foreign Affairs to manage cases in the European Courts and therefore any legal costs would be borne by that Department.
226. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider implementing a ban on the live exports which exceed eight hours in duration, and if he has concerns about the treatment of animals exported from Ireland to Libya or the Middle East once the animals have reached their destination. [23069/13]
View answerIreland has a strict system of rules in respect of the transport of live animals both on national and international journeys. These rules are implemented in the context of Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005, which has made a significant contribution to animal welfare during transport. Provisions in the EU regulation relating to the training of drivers, the authorisation of transporters and improved vehicle specifications have all been very beneficial. The safeguards provided by the existing regulation are well considered and scientifically sound and experience has shown that animals can arrive in perfect health after a long journey if the specification on rests and feeding/watering as set down in Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 are correctly observed.
The current Irish regulation in relation to the approval of ships for livestock transport is set higher than that which applies in other EU Member States. This is justified not only on sound animal welfare reasons but also because it reflects the nature of the shipping routes from this island. Detailed inspections are required before approval is given to ships transporting animals. The requirements for approval of dedicated vessels for the carriage of cattle by sea are contained in the Diseases of Animals (Carriage of Cattle by Sea) Orders, 1996 and 1998.
My Department has no jurisdiction in relation to standards of slaughter plants in other countries. However, it does support ongoing efforts by international organisations, such as the OIE, to improve welfare standards at slaughter plants worldwide. The live export trade provides alternative market outlets for certain categories of livestock, thereby serving a market demand and providing increased competition in the market place for cattle. My Department is conscious of the need to balance this trade with the requirements of the indigenous meat processing industry and seeks to ensure that any such trade is carried out to a high standard.
227. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application under the agri environment option scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23088/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 22nd November 2012 and an acknowledgement letter has issued to the person named. The processing of all applications is nearing completion and I expect to be in a position to inform all applicants of the outcome very shortly. In the event that any queries arise on the application of the person named during this process officials in my Department will be in direct contact with the person named.
228. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the outstanding balance of the 2011 agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23113/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011 and full payment totalling €533.77 issued in respect of 2011.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process. These checks have been successfully completed and full payment totalling €1,601.40 issued in respect of the 2012 scheme year – 75% payment issued on 14th February and the balancing 25% payment issued on 18th February 2013.
229. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in relation to a suckler welfare scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry now that all further information requested has been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23114/13]
View answerThe person named registered five animals for the 2011 Suckler Welfare Scheme and eighteen animals for the 2012 Scheme.
Following validation of recently received weaning information, payment issued for one of the 2011 born animals on 7 May 2013 and ten of the 2012 born animals on 2 May 2013. A further three of the 2012 born animals have only been weaned in the last 4 weeks and will be considered for payment as soon as possible, when compliance with all of the requirements of the Scheme has been verified.
Errors had been identified in relation to the remaining 2011 and 2012 born animals and letters regarding these errors issued to the applicant on 29 April 2013. The applicant has resolved errors in relation to one of the 2011 born animals and one of the 2012 born animals and payment will issue in respect of both of these animals shortly, subject to confirmation that all of the other terms and conditions have been complied with.
Payment cannot be considered for the remaining animals until all of the information requested on 29 April has been received.
