Written Answers Nos. 136-143
136. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of those aged 18 to 20, inclusive, in prison, and those in Wheatfield Place of Detention, who are in basic regime; the number in standard regime; the number in enhanced regime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8617/15]
View answer137. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of those aged 21 to 24, inclusive, in prison, and in Wheatfield Place of Detention, who are in basic regime; the number in standard regime; the number in enhanced regime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8618/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
I can inform the Deputy that the Incentivised Regimes Policy was introduced on a phased basis across all prisons in 2012 and is now operational in all institutions. Incentivised Regimes provides for a differentiation of privileges between prisoners according to their level of engagement with services and quality of behaviour. The objective is to provide tangible incentives to prisoners to participate in structured activities and to reinforce good behaviour, leading to a safer and more secure environment.
There are three levels of privilege - basic, standard and enhanced and each prison has developed an information booklet on how the scheme operates and specifically on the criteria and privileges associated with each level of regime.
Prisoners on the enhanced regime level are significantly more likely to benefit from temporary release programmes such as Community Return – where prisoners are released early under Probation Supervision to partake of voluntary work for the benefit of the community – and/or transfer to an open centre. These are significant motivational factors in encouraging prisoners to engage in authorised structured activities and improve general behaviour. The hope is that these benefits are not just apparent in prisons and that the behavioural change effected will stay with the prisoner on his release. Experience in other jurisdictions has shown that an incentivised regime structure is a hugely valuable addition to prisons in the context of good order and prisoner compliance.
The standard set of core privileges provided in each prison comprises of different levels of daily gratuity ranging from €0.95 to €2.20, the number and length of visits a prisoner is allowed to receive and the number of telephone calls a prisoner is allowed to make. Each prison has drawn up a list of privileges available under each regime level. The list of available privileges is likely to vary between prisons and within different areas of a prison, depending on the operational and infrastructure requirements of each prison. Examples of other incentives offered include improved accommodation (e.g. move from dormitory accommodation to a single room in an open centre). In the past, access to facilities such as DVD players, games consoles have been provided. Prisoners can also gain access to employment opportunities within the prison e.g. kitchens, laundries etc.
I can advise the Deputy that on 24 February 2015, 18-20 year olds in custody were assigned to the following regime levels: Basic - 27; Standard - 148; and, Enhanced - 72. On the same date, 21-24 year olds in custody were assigned to the following regime levels: Basic - 58; Standard - 353; and Enhanced - 255.
138. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of those aged 18 to 20, inclusive, in prison, and in Wheatfield Place of Detention, who have been assaulted while in detention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8619/15]
View answer139. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of those aged 21 to 24, inclusive, in prison, and in Wheatfield Place of Detention, who have been assaulted while in detention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8620/15]
View answer140. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of those aged 18 to 20, inclusive, in prison, and in Wheatfield Place of Detention, who have assaulted a prison officer, other member of prison staff or another prisoner while in detention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8621/15]
View answer141. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of those aged 21 to 24, inclusive, in prison, and in Wheatfield Place of Detention, who have assaulted a prison officer, other member prison staff or another prisoner while in detention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8622/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, together.
I can advise the Deputy that the information requested is not readily available. I will forward the reply to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
142. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of workshop and work-training posts that are vacant in each prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8623/15]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that the following table shows the existing vacancies for workshop and work training posts in each Prison.
|
Prison |
Total number of posts |
Vacancies |
|
Arbour Hill |
12 |
0 |
|
Castlerea |
26 |
0 |
|
Cloverhill |
27 |
0 |
|
Cork |
23 |
1 |
|
Dóchas |
12 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
24 |
2 |
|
Loughan House |
11 |
0 |
|
Midlands |
67 |
5 |
|
Mountjoy |
48 |
4 |
|
Portlaoise |
27 |
0 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
11 |
0 |
|
St. Patrick's Institution |
25 |
0 |
|
Training Unit |
7 |
0 |
|
Wheatfield |
58 |
1 |
All vacancies are in the process of being filled from a current Work Training Officer panel.
The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on improving prisoners' employability prospects through work training activities and accredited vocational training courses.
A wide range of training workshops operate within the institutions e.g. printing, computers, braille, woodwork, metalwork, construction, industrial cleaning, crafts and horticulture. There are over 100 workshops and service activities across the prison estate. In November 2014, the latest month for which statistics are available, an average of 1,076 prisoners engaged in these vocational training activities and courses each day - 26% of the average prison population in that month.
The Irish Prison Service has also been expanding the number of accredited courses and opportunities available to prisoners in Work Training in recent years. Enhanced partnership arrangements with accrediting bodies such as City and Guilds, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), and the Guild of Launderers and Cleaners and the centralising of coordination and quality assurance arrangements have enabled us to extend the number of available courses and activities with certification.
143. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of hours the library in each prison is scheduled to open each week; the percentage of scheduled opening times the libraries were actually open during 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8624/15]
View answerThe number of hours the library in each prison is scheduled to be open is set out in the table. The libraries for Arbour Hill, Dóchas, Mountjoy and the Training Unit are open as the demand requires.
|
Scheduled Opening Hours (per week) |
% hours open January - December 2013 |
|
|
Arbour Hill |
On demand |
As required |
|
Castlerea |
32 |
100 |
|
Cloverhill |
35.5 |
44 |
|
Cork |
37.5 |
83 |
|
Dóchas |
On demand |
As required |
|
Limerick |
20 |
50 |
|
Loughan House |
7 |
100 |
|
Midlands |
25 |
95 |
|
Mountjoy |
On demand |
As required |
|
Portlaoise C Block |
77 |
99 |
|
Portlaoise E Block |
77 |
99 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
11 |
100 |
|
St Patrick's Institution |
Provision of a library service in the old St. Patrick's building is currently under review due to the transfer of 17 to 21 year olds to Wheatfield |
N/A |
Libraries in prisons are regarded by prison management as key elements in the process of normalisation and rehabilitation for prisoners. Library services in prisons are mainly provided by Local Authority library personnel deployed to prisons. In some cases, libraries are managed by prison officers or prisoners, with professional librarian oversight. While it is the case that a shortfall in staffing numbers on a particular day can impact negatively on service provision, the Irish Prison Service is actively pursuing the option of having all libraries in prisons managed by long-term, suitably trained prisoners, with professional oversight in order to maximise the service. Prisoners have been trained up and are active in supporting library services in Arbour Hill, the Midlands Prison, Training Unit, Castlerea Prison, Limerick, Portlaoise, Mountjoy, Wheatfield and the Dóchas Centre. In Cork, Shelton Abbey and Loughan House, prisoners assist in the running of the libraries.
