Wednesday, 24 Sep 2014

Written Answers Nos. 109-114

Prisoner Data

Questions (109)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners currently serving sentences for drug related offences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36064/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can advise the Deputy that on the 31 August 2014 there were 3,792 prisoners in custody across the prison system. Of this 530 or almost 14% were serving sentences for drugs related offences.

A full breakdown of the offences, taken from the most recent snapshot of the prison population conducted on 31st August 2014, is set out in the following table. The figures include the length of the sentence in each case.

In 2013 there were 846 committals to prison under sentence for controlled drug offences. This represented a decrease of 8% on the 2012 figure of 922.

Data from	3 to <6 Mths	6 to <12 Mths	1 to <2 Yrs	2 to <3 Yrs	3 to <5 Yrs	5 to <10 Yrs	10+ Yrs	Total
Allowing car to be used Section 19 misuse of Drugs Act					1			1
Allowing premises to be used			1	1				2
Cultivation of Cannabis Plants and Opium Poppy		2	3	2	21	5		33
Misuse of Drugs Act - printing etc					2			2
Possession for sale or supply drugs valued €13,000.00 or more				7	23	42	37	109
Possession of drugs for the purpose of sale or supply	1	13	30	44	83	98	37	306
Unlawful possession of Drug(s)		1	6	8	25	16	11	67
Unlawful supply/offer to supply controlled drug					1	1		2
Unlawfully importing or exporting controlled drugs			1	1		3		5
Unlawfully produce controlled drugs				1	1	1		3
Total	1	16	41	64	157	166	85	530

Prisoner Data

Questions (110)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners currently serving sentences arising from organised criminal gang activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36065/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I wish to inform the Deputy that it is not possible to give figures as to the number of prisoners currently serving sentences arising from organised criminal gang activity. Membership/allegiance to criminal gangs fluctuates on a continuous basis with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated.

The emergence in recent years of criminal gangs has had significant implications for the management of Irish prisons. Rivalries and feuds which develop on the outside continue inside of prison. Prison management must ensure that the various factions are kept apart and, as far as possible, that gang members do not have influence over other inmates in the prisons or criminal activities on the outside.

Gang members are managed on a daily basis through segregation and separation throughout the prison system. Membership/allegiance of these criminal gangs fluctuates on a continuous basis with some persons breaking links and others becoming affiliated.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a number of initiatives have been introduced with a view to preventing identified gang leaders from conducting criminal activities while in custody and also to prevent them exerting inappropriate influence over other persons. For example, the security initiatives undertaken by the Operational Security Group (OSG) have made it more difficult for prisoners to engage in illegal activities while in prison. These initiatives include the introduction of passive and active drug detection dogs and the installation of airport style security including scanners and x-ray machines. Core functions of this group include gathering and collating intelligence information on criminal gang members in custody , carrying out intelligence led searches and preventing the flow of contraband (including mobile phones) into the prisons.

In addition, there is regular contact between the Prison Service and An Garda Síochána to discuss security issues including the operation of criminal gangs. Gardaí are also provided with reports detailing the release dates of this category of prisoner.

Furthermore, the Risk Management of Offenders Group within the Irish Prison Service, which is comprised of Governors of all closed prisons and the Governor of the Operational Support Group, meet on a regular basis to share intelligence and decide in a strategic and collaborative fashion on the placement of leading gang members across the prison estate, having regard to the associated protection issues involved.

I have provided a table from the 31 August 2014 outlining the offence profile of all sentenced persons in custody on that date.

Offence	31/08
Homicide Offences	428
Sexual Offences	361
Attempts/Threat to Murder, Assaults and Related Offences	424
Dangerous or Negligent Acts	72
Kidnapping and Related Offences	49
Robbery, Extortion and Hijacking Offences	115
Burglary and Related Offences	293
Theft and Related Offences	584
Fraud, Deception and Related Offences	42
Controlled Drug Offences	530
Weapons and Explosives Offences	136
Damage to Property and to the Environment	69
Public Order and Other Social Code Offences	25
Road and Traffic Offences	27
Offences against Govt., Justice Procedures and Organised Crime	51
Offences Not Elsewhere Classified	13
Total	3,219

Juvenile Offenders

Questions (111)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which prison places remain available for juvenile offenders; the number of such places currently occupied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36066/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Irish Prison Service publishes on its website (www.irishprisons.ie) prisoner population figures for all institutions on a daily basis.

I wish to advise the Deputy that on Monday 22 September, 2014, there were five 17 year old prisoners detained on remand at St Patrick's Institution.

In line with recommendations of the Inspector of Prisons to effect changes in regime and culture and to ensure the safe and secure custody of juvenile and young adult offenders, a Government decision was taken to close St. Patrick’s Institution and disperse, where possible, prisoners to other locations. However, pending the development of new facilities in Oberstown which are currently under construction, 17 year old children on remand must remain detained at St Patrick's Institution for legal reasons. There are no prisoners including those under 18 years of age serving a sentence in St Patrick's Institution.

In line with the Government decision an area of Wheatfield Prison was renovated to house 17 year old sentenced prisoners pending the completion of the Oberstown facilities. This unit can hold up to 16 prisoners and all sentenced 17 year old prisoners are housed there. On Monday 22 September, 2014 there were nine 17 year old sentenced prisoners in the Wheatfield unit.

Garda Complaints Procedures

Questions (112)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the manner in which complaints within An Garda Síochana continue to be dealt with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36067/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I presume the Deputy is referring to the system whereby members of An Garda Síochána can report instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Garda Síochána.

The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 provided for the appointment of an independent Confidential Recipient to whom members of the Force, and civilian support staff, could report, in full confidence, such instances where they believe there may be corruption or malpractice within the Force.

The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into operation on 15 July 2014. This Act revoked the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Malpractice and Corruption) Regulations 2007 and provided for the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission to be prescribed as a body to which disclosures may be made by members of the Garda Síochána. On 23 July 2014 GSOC was prescribed under section 7 of the Act as a body to receive protected disclosures.

Members of An Garda Síochána may now communicate their concerns in full confidence to the Garda Commissioner or to Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission as a prescribed body under the Act.

Garda Equipment

Questions (113)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

113. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the technology, including forensic technology, available to An Garda Síochána continues to be upgraded in line with international best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36068/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

The operation and deployment of Garda resources, including equipment, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. In that regard I am informed by the Garda authorities that they are continually looking to ensure that the latest information, communications and forensic technologies are sourced and deployed to achieve their strategic objectives as set out the Policing Plan for 2014, which includes commitments to target individuals and groups engaged in organised criminal activity. This policy is designed to ensure that the Garda Síochána will be in a position to meet the evolving needs of a modern effective police force and take advantage of proven up to date technological developments in crime detection and prevention as they occur.

In terms of existing technology, the Deputy will be aware that a considerable amount of new Garda ICT solutions has been delivered over the past number of years. These include the deployment of a secure national digital radio system (NDRS), the deployment and support of Garda and Community CCTV systems, an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system, and the addition of many new functions to the modernised PULSE system, a class-leader in terms of incident recording which itself is further supported by a dedicated Garda data entry service in Castlebar.

In the area of forensics the situation is that the Garda authorities currently employ state-of-the-art automated fingerprint and ballistics identification systems which I am informed are at least on a par with those used by police forces in other EU jurisdictions. The Deputy will also be aware that the forensic capacity of An Garda Síochána will be further enhanced by a new national DNA database, expected to become operational later this year, which was established on foot of the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act, 2014.

Prisoner Data

Questions (114)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

114. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which prisoners have absconded from the prison service in each of the past five years to date; the number recaptured; the number currently still at large; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36069/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I can inform the Deputy that the number of prisoners deemed to have absconded from the custody of the Irish Prison Service in each of the past five years to date is set out in the following table:

Year	Number of Absconders
2009	133
2010	112
2011	86
2012	63
2013	18
2014	7

As on 22 September 2014, Irish Prison Service records indicate that of the 419 persons who absconded during this time period, 32 remain unlawfully at large. Gardaí are informed when prisoners abscond and they have the power to detain, arrest, and return such persons to prison. Experience has shown that the vast majority of offenders who abscond return voluntarily or are returned to custody to complete their sentences within a short time frame.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that in October 2012, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service established a project team to examine how the Irish Prison Service might reduce the number of prisoners who are unlawfully at large from custody. The project team has worked closely with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Social Protection and its work has led to the re-committal of a number of prisoners who had absconded from custody. This project is ongoing.