Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
413. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of prisoners temporarily released on the community return programme, by prison, and by year, from the years 2012 to 2014. [15652/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy is as set out in the following table:
|
Prison |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Arbour Hill |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
5 |
6 |
11 |
|
Cloverhill Prison |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Cork Prison |
29 |
19 |
41 |
|
Dochas Centre |
12 |
21 |
14 |
|
Limerick Prison |
22 |
39 |
35 |
|
Loughan House |
27 |
79 |
92 |
|
Midlands Prison |
29 |
33 |
33 |
|
Mountjoy Prison |
40 |
36 |
23 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
4 |
15 |
9 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
70 |
82 |
127 |
|
St Patrick's Institution |
12 |
19 |
2 |
|
Training Unit |
36 |
18 |
43 |
|
Wheatfield Place of Detention |
13 |
26 |
25 |
|
Total |
299 |
396 |
455 |
The Community Return Scheme is a unique initiative whereby carefully selected prisoners can be granted reviewable temporary release coupled with a requirement to do community service work such as painting, gardening or graffiti removal in a supervised group setting. The type of work involved is intended to assist the community and the scheme is involved with a large number of charitable organisations and local community groups.
The results of the Community Return Scheme have to date been extremely positive with almost 90% of participants having successfully completed their obligations or are currently complying with the conditions of their early release. Any participant in the Community Return Scheme who fails to comply with the conditions of their release is immediately returned to prison. Feedback from the participants has been positive with many commenting on the supports and structure that it gives them on their release and how it has assisted in their transition back into the community.
