Written Answers Nos. 225-247
225. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is eligible under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17733/15]
View answerAll farmers who declared their lands in 2014 are eligible to submit an application for GLAS. Approval into the scheme, however, is based on predetermined criteria which are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. For example, farmers with a Tier One priority environmental asset, such as commonage, Natura, one of the endangered bird species, high status water or who keep rare breeds or farm organically, receive priority access into the scheme. Farmers may also choose actions which increase their likelihood of approval. Full details are available on my Department’s website.
All applications need to be prepared by an approved GLAS advisor and if the person-named is interested in the scheme, he should contact his advisor who will be able access the online system for him and review his possibilities.
226. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the duties and/or responsibilities that have been delegated to the Minister of State (details supplied) in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17833/15]
View answerOn 15 July 2014 Minister Phelan was appointed to be Minister of State at the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for rural economic development, rural transport and, in particular, the implementation of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) Report. In December 2014, in addition to her existing responsibilities, the Government assigned Minister Phelan to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government with special responsibility for Local/Community/Rural Economic Development issues, including implementation of the CEDRA report.
The thirty four CEDRA recommendations are very wide ranging and cover issues that fall within the remit of a number of Government Departments. The recommendations cover areas as diverse as investment and finance, local enterprise support, community capability building, social enterprise, broadband, roads, water, rural transport, artisan foods, creative industries, tourism and recreation, marine and renewable energy. Minister Phelan has established and chairs an Inter-Departmental Group to coordinate and oversee action on all these issues. This does not necessarily involve specific delegated functions. Insofar as my Department is concerned there are no legislative acts to be formally delegated to Minister Phelan.
227. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of recruitment under the aegis of his Department to the public sector since the partial lifting of the embargo on recruitment. [18247/15]
View answerTo date in 2015, my Department has recruited 21 new staff following competitive processes conducted by the Public Appointments Service.
Information in respect of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.
228. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Defence the number of external and/or outsourced practices that are used by the Defence Forces for physiotherapy at present. [17407/15]
View answerThe table sets out the number of physiotherapy practices that currently provide services to the Defence Forces:
|
Defence Forces Formation |
Physiotherapy practices providing services |
|
Defence Forces Training Centre |
22 |
|
1 Brigade |
9 |
|
2 Brigade |
15 |
|
Naval Service |
3 |
|
Air Corps |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
50 |
I am informed by the military authorities that, following an internal review of the provision of physiotherapy services to members of the Defence Forces, it has been decided to in-source this service. The Defence Forces is currently recruiting a head physiotherapist and will, thereafter, recruit 4.5 whole time-equivalent physiotherapists.
229. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Defence the reason it is considered appropriate to impose an 18 to 28 years of age limit when advertising for musicians in the public press for his Department; and if this imposition can be lifted. [17828/15]
View answerA competition for the enlistment of instrumentalists in the Defence Forces School of Music is currently underway. The closing date for receipt of applications was 22 April 2015.
The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan both identified the requirement to address the age profile in the Defence Forces.
A key element in military life is the need for personnel to maintain a level of fitness for combat readiness. This requirement must be balanced with the need to retain experience and expertise, particularly at managerial level in the Defence Forces.
The age requirement applicable to this competition is that candidates must be not less than 18 years of age and must be under 28 years of age on the closing for receipt of applications. These limits are determined on the basis that the essential functions of the Permanent Defence Force requires that its members be composed of able-bodied personnel of an age which is commensurate with the functional requirements of the organisation as a whole. The Military Authorities have advised that these upper age limits have proven suitable for the requirements for a modern Defence Force which is actively involved in operations at home and on Peace Support Operations overseas. Agreement was also reached with the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) on this matter.
I am satisfied that the existing upper age requirements for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force are appropriate.
230. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of recruitment under the aegis of his Department to the public sector since the partial lifting of the embargo on recruitment. [18249/15]
View answerThe Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel, and civilian employees attached to military installations. There has been no recruitment of Military Personnel or Civilian Employees since the partial lifting of the embargo on recruitment.
The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent body established under the Public Service Management Act 2004 for the purpose of providing recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service. PAS was engaged by my Department in order to facilitate the recruitment of 2 Administrative Officers and 1 Temporary Clerical Officer, all of whom took up duty between 1 January and 30 April 2015.
231. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce a register of leases in line with practice in other EU states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17443/15]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that a Commercial Leases Database is maintained by the Property Services Regulatory Authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 87 of the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011. The Act provides for the establishment of the commercial leases database. The legislation applies to all commercial property leases entered into on or after 3 April 2012, the date the legislation became operational. The Act also provides that certain limited information may be published by the Authority in respect of leases entered into before that date. As a result, the Authority has made available certain information in respect of all commercial leases entered into since 1 January 2010. The Commercial Leases Database is available on the Property Services Regulatory Authority's website, www.psr.ie.
The Database includes the following information in respect of all commercial leases entered into since 1 January 2010:
- the address of the leased commercial property;
- the date of the lease of the property;
- the term of years of the lease; and
- the rent payable in respect of the property.
With regard to commercial leases entered into on or after 3 April 2012, the Act imposes an obligation, on tenants of such properties, to furnish the following additional information to the PSRA:
- the commencement date of the terms of the lease;
- the capital consideration (if any) to be paid by the tenant or landlord in respect of the commercial property the subject of the lease;
- the frequency of the rent review in respect of the property;
- the particulars relating to who is liable in respect of the rates, insurance, service charges and repairs in respect of the property;
- the net floor area, per each floor, of the property;
- the particulars (if any) relating to rent-free periods, fitting out time allowed, fit out allowances and capital contributions in respect of the property;
- the particulars relating to any break-in clause in the lease; and
- the certificate identification number (within the meaning of Regulation 2 of the Stamp Duty (e-Stamping of Instruments) Regulations 2009).
232. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on measures being put in place to deal with bankruptcy for those in mortgage arrears; if the proposed change of the discharge period, from one year to three years, will take place; the options available to those facing eviction; the urgent action the Government is taking on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17457/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will recall, a very substantial change to Ireland's bankruptcy regime was made by the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, which reduced automatic discharge from bankruptcy from 12 years to 3 years. This Government has also greatly reduced the costs of bankruptcy - from around €1400 in total in 2012, to just €270 euro from 1 January 2015. While bankruptcy used to be predominantly sought by creditors, since late 2013 almost all bankruptcies are sought by the debtor.
Work is currently under way across Government Departments to develop a comprehensive and effective package of measures to help those trapped in unsustainable mortgage debt on their homes to arrive at sustainable solutions. This is a priority for me and for the Government. That work is now being completed, with specific attention to the personal insolvency legislation, and the Government’s action plan in this area will be announced shortly.
I am anxious to ensure that the immediate steps which are to be taken now will be ones which will directly assist those in extreme debt and mortgage difficulty, and which will service the very fundamental principle that loss of ownership of a family home through repossession should be a last resort.
This is basic to our consideration and evaluation of all options which are available to us, legislative and otherwise, and including the reduction of the bankruptcy discharge period proposed by Deputy Penrose’s Private Member's Bill.
233. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason for the delay in implementing the national disability strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17608/15]
View answerAt the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government continues to prioritise the needs of people with disabilities. Responsibility for coordinating policy on disability lies with my Department. However, the implementation of sectoral policy is a matter for a number of Government Departments, with responsibility for provision of services resting mainly with the Department of Health.
The Programme for Government committed to publishing, "following wide consultation, a realistic implementation plan for the National Disability Strategy, including sectoral plans with achievable time scales and targets within available resources and ensuring whole-of-government involvement and monitoring of the Strategy, in partnership with the disability sector".
The Implementation Plan was submitted to Government on 23 July 2013 and was published following Government Decision of that date. Considerable discussion was undertaken between the disability stakeholders and Government Departments to reach agreement on the suite of actions contained in the Plan and there are no outstanding inputs from Departments or agencies. The Plan sets out the practical measures across all relevant Government Departments to be taken to advance the National Disability Strategy over the period 2013 to 2015 and ensures that available resources are used to best effect to meet the needs of all people with disabilities. The Implementation Plan covers the period up to end-2015 and my Department will shortly commence a consultation process with all relevant stakeholders with a view to putting a revised Disability Inclusion Strategy in place as from January 2016.
The focus in the follow-on Implementation Plan will be on the key themes that impact on the lives of people with disabilities, on identifying agreed objectives within each theme and on developing specific actions to be undertaken to achieve each of the agreed objectives, together with timelines and key performance indicators.
The National Disability Strategy Implementation Group, which I chair, and which comprises representatives from across Government Departments, representatives from the City and County Managers Association, the National Disability Authority, a broad range of disability organisations, and a number of individuals appointed in their personal capacity to bring their lived experience to the table, will have a central role in shaping the new Implementation Plan.
234. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to re-examine and abolish upward-only rent reviews for commercial properties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17442/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in December 2011 the Government took the difficult decision not to proceed with the commitment in the Programme for Government to abolish upward only rent reviews in so called "legacy leases", i.e., those entered into before 28 February 2010. For leases entered into on or after that date, section 132 of the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 has the effect of providing that, in practice, upward only rent review clauses are no longer possible.
In relation to so called "legacy leases", there was a substantial concern that any legislative scheme involving interference in the contractual relationships of private parties would find it extremely difficult to survive a Constitutional challenge. In addition, the Government was advised that any model proposed would require the payment of compensation to landlords whose rights were infringed in order to ensure that the proposal would be compatible with the Constitution and with the European Convention on Human Rights. As I have indicated in my replies to previous Parliamentary Questions on the subject of upward only rent review clauses, there are no plans to re-examine the decision taken in 2011.
235. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of submissions that were received during the public consultation, on proposals for the new policing authority; and her plans to publish these submissions. [17204/15]
View answerIn total, 33 written submissions were received in the course of the public consultation process undertaken by the Government during May 2014. With the Government approval I will very shortly publish a Bill to provide for the establishment of the Independent Policing Authority and the submissions have been taken into account in the preparation of this legislation.
I look forward to the introduction of the new Bill at an early stage and I will consider the question of publishing the submissions provided during the consultation process.
236. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the call by the west Galway coroner (details supplied) for the amendment of the public order Acts to allow gardaí to detain persons for their own safety, and for the provision of defibrillators in all stations, following a recent death; and her plans to amend the Act. [17212/15]
View answerLegislation in relation to public order and detention powers of the Garda Síochána is kept under continual review in my Department. The question of the Garda Síochána detaining persons for their own safety, such as due to intoxication, is currently being examined in that context.
In relation to defibrillators, I understand that a policy on the deployment and use of this equipment is currently being developed by the Garda Síochána as part of an overall First Aid Policy for the organisation.
237. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in Portlaoise Prison in County Laois on 14 January 2015 between 21 and 24 years of age, inclusive; the numbers required to slop out or to use normal toilet facilities in the presence of others; the number who are sole occupants of a cell that has a normal flush toilet installed, or who have access at all times to normal toilet facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17224/15]
View answer238. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in Portlaoise Prison in County Laois on 14 January 2015 between 18 and 20 years of age, inclusive; the number required to slop out or to use normal toilet facilities in the presence of others; the number who are sole occupants of a cell that has a normal flush toilet installed, or have access at all times to normal toilet facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17225/15]
View answer239. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in Portlaoise Prison in County Laois on 14 January 2015; the number required to slop out or to use normal toilet facilities in the presence of others; the number who are sole occupants of a cell that has a normal flush toilet installed, or have access at all times to normal toilet facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17226/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 239, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a breakdown of access to in-cell sanitation, including the number required to slop out, the number required to use toilet facilities in the presence of others and the number that are the sole occupants of a cell that has a normal flush toilet or have access to normal toilet facilities is included in a Quarterly Census Report which is published on the Irish Prison Service website, (www.irishprisons.ie).
I am advised that the report does not breakdown each institution by age category as this would require a manual examination of each record. However, I can advise the Deputy that on 5th May 2015, there were 4 prisoners aged 18-20 in custody in Portlaoise Prison and none of these prisoners were required to slop out.
In addition, 30 prisoners aged 21-24 were also accommodated in Portlaoise Prison. Of this, 3 were accommodated in the E Wing of Portlaoise Prison and therefore would be required to slop out.
Quarterly Census Reports for January 2015 and April 2015 have been published so far this year.
240. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the numbers of persons in prison and in each institution who are serving a sentence for the first time, diagnosed with a mental health problem, dependent on drugs, and on remand; the number of recorded attacks on prison officers and prisoners by other prisoners in each prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17227/15]
View answer241. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons between 18 and 20 years of age, inclusive, in Wheatfield Place of Detention being held under sentence or remand under existing legislation; the number in each prison serving a sentence for the first time diagnosed with a mental health problem, dependent on drugs or on remand among this age cohort; the number of recorded attacks on prison officers and prisoners by other prisoners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17228/15]
View answer242. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons between 21 and 24 years of age, inclusive, in prison; the number in each institution; the number of prisoners of this age cohort in each institution serving a sentence for the first time, diagnosed with a mental health problem, dependent on drug misuse, or on remand; the number of recorded attacks on prison officers and prisoners by other prisoners in this age cohort in each institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17229/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 242, inclusive, together.
I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that some of the information requested by the Deputy cannot be answered in the way the Deputy has asked. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort that could not be justified where there are other significant demands on resources. However I can advise the Deputy that the number of sentenced and remand prisoner in custody in each prison is set out in Table 1. I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that on the 5th May 2015 there were 61 sentenced prisoners aged 18 to 20 in custody in Wheatfield Place of Detention. There were no prisoners in this age category on remand. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of persons aged 21 to 24 in each prison is set out in the table 2.
The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of services to meet the therapeutic needs of persons in custody who require mental health services, or access to drug treatment services.
In relation to drug dependency the Irish Prison Service continues to seek to construct a range of programmes, support services and through-care options for prisoners demonstrating a commitment to addressing their substance misuse. In line with Action 43 of the National Drug Strategy the Irish Prison Service has an agreed protocol with the HSE for the seamless transition of prisoners established on drug treatment into community drug treatment settings. As well as this drug free units are operational in all closed prisons. These units accommodate and cater for the needs of both drug free prisoners and illicit drug free prisoners including those prisoners stable on methadone. All prisoners engaged in drug treatment have the support of healthcare staff and in reach services as required. Merchants Quay Ireland currently has a contract with the Irish Prison Service for the provision of addiction counselling services in all prisons with the exception of Arbour Hill. The expansion of treatment and other health and social services in prisons continues. Drug treatment services are now in place all closed prisons.
In-reach mental health services are available in all Dublin prisons and in the Portlaoise Campus and Castlerea Prison by way of collaboration with the National Forensic Mental Health Services. The Central Mental Hospital provides forensic mental health sessions weekly in these prisons, and provides an assessment and liaison service for all other prisons. Specialist in-reach services are also in place in Cork Prison and Limerick Prison. The Irish Prison Service has access to a limited number of places in the Central Mental Hospital for prisoners who require residential mental health treatment. The IPS Psychology Service also provides mental health services to prisoners, and helps offenders address factors that put them at risk of re-offending. As well as this a Psychiatric In-reach and Court Liaison Service is available at Cloverhill Prison.
With regards to the Deputy's request for a breakdown of assaults among certain categories of prisoner, I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that assault statistics are also not categorised by prisoner age profile. However, figures for assaults in our prisons for 2013 are set out in Table 3.
The Irish Prison Service has successfully introduced a number of measures across the prison estate such as, hand-held metal detectors, netting over prison yards, boss chairs and security screening machines to detect and prevent weapons from entering the prison to limit the scope of acts of violence. In addition, new prisoner programmes have been introduced such as the Incentivised Regimes policy which 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.
Table 1
|
Institution |
Number in custody |
Number on Trial/Remand |
|
Mountjoy (Male) |
542 |
3 |
|
Mountjoy (Female) |
96 |
17 |
|
Training Unit |
93 |
0 |
|
St. Patrick's |
1 |
1 |
|
Cloverhill |
347 |
228 |
|
Wheatfield |
480 |
1 |
|
Midlands |
795 |
46 |
|
Portlaoise |
222 |
11 |
|
Cork |
234 |
38 |
|
Limerick (Male) |
229 |
53 |
|
Limerick (Female) |
26 |
4 |
|
Castlerea |
309 |
49 |
|
Arbour Hill |
135 |
0 |
|
Loughan House |
131 |
0 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
97 |
0 |
|
Total |
3,737 |
451 |
Table 2
|
Institution |
Aged 21 to 24 |
Number on remand (aged 21 to 24) |
|
Mountjoy (Male) |
92 |
0 |
|
Mountjoy (Female) |
7 |
2 |
|
Training Unit |
8 |
0 |
|
Cloverhill |
64 |
44 |
|
Wheatfield |
66 |
0 |
|
Midlands |
106 |
6 |
|
Portlaoise |
30 |
0 |
|
Cork |
39 |
6 |
|
Limerick (Male) |
54 |
12 |
|
Limerick (Female) |
4 |
0 |
|
Castlerea |
46 |
7 |
|
Arbour Hill |
8 |
0 |
|
Loughan House |
15 |
0 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
5 |
0 |
|
Total |
544 |
77 |
Table 3
|
Prison/Place of Detention |
Number of Prisoner on Prisoner Assaults by prison 2014 |
Number of Prisoner Assaults on Staff by prison 2014 |
|
Arbour Hill |
6 |
1 |
|
Castlerea |
95 |
9 |
|
Cloverhill |
90 |
20 |
|
Cork |
51 |
13 |
|
Dóchas Centre |
16 |
8 |
|
Limerick (F) |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick (M) |
37 |
3 |
|
Loughan House |
0 |
0 |
|
Midlands |
77 |
13 |
|
Mountjoy (Male) |
96 |
30 |
|
St. Patrick's Institution |
9 |
13 |
|
Portlaoise |
11 |
2 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
0 |
0 |
|
Training Unit |
0 |
0 |
|
Wheatfield |
74 |
26 |
|
PSEC |
2 |
6 |
|
Total |
564 |
144 |
243. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the average number of prisoners in custody for each month from May 2013 to December 2013; if she will provide, in tabular form, the average number of prisoners per month, broken down by prison; the capacity of each prison; and the Inspector of Prisons' recommended capacity for each prison for each of these months. [17256/15]
View answerI can inform the Deputy a full breakdown to include monthly average number of prisoners in custody per institution, bed capacity and Inspector of Prison's bed capacity is set out in the following table.
|
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Bed Capacity |
Bed Capacity per Inspector of Prisons |
|
|
Institution |
||||||||||
|
Mountjoy (Male) |
545 |
543 |
550 |
525 |
515 |
518 |
526 |
539 |
575 |
540 |
|
Mountjoy (Female) |
129 |
133 |
132 |
130 |
125 |
126 |
120 |
118 |
105 |
105 |
|
Training Unit |
111 |
106 |
103 |
106 |
104 |
99 |
99 |
89 |
106 |
96 |
|
St. Patrick's |
160 |
136 |
100 |
84 |
86 |
89 |
88 |
82 |
115 |
191 |
|
Cloverhill |
416 |
387 |
382 |
377 |
412 |
418 |
409 |
387 |
431 |
414 |
|
Wheatfield |
709 |
679 |
610 |
589 |
540 |
540 |
544 |
498 |
540 |
642 |
|
Midlands |
722 |
776 |
831 |
820 |
817 |
830 |
844 |
852 |
870 |
777 |
|
Portlaoise |
259 |
262 |
266 |
261 |
259 |
257 |
253 |
257 |
291 |
291 |
|
Cork |
225 |
223 |
238 |
211 |
220 |
229 |
230 |
231 |
210 |
173 |
|
Limerick (Male) |
223 |
220 |
227 |
224 |
224 |
227 |
223 |
216 |
220 |
185 |
|
Limerick (Female) |
25 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
29 |
32 |
30 |
33 |
28 |
24 |
|
Castlerea |
350 |
355 |
353 |
345 |
352 |
355 |
353 |
354 |
340 |
300 |
|
Arbour Hill |
143 |
141 |
138 |
140 |
140 |
139 |
141 |
141 |
142 |
131 |
|
Loughan House |
124 |
122 |
122 |
130 |
127 |
129 |
127 |
115 |
140 |
140 |
|
Shelton Abbey |
108 |
107 |
105 |
106 |
106 |
104 |
101 |
89 |
115 |
115 |
|
Totals |
4,249 |
4,219 |
4,187 |
4,079 |
4,056 |
4,092 |
4,088 |
4,001 |
4,228 |
4,124 |
As outlined in the Irish Prison Service Three Year Strategic Plan 2012 - 2015, it is intended to align the bed 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. This has been completed for 9 out of the 14 prisons in the State. The number in custody on 5th May (3,737) represented 94% of the Inspector of Prisons recommended total of 3,982.
The Deputy will be aware that the average number of prisoners in custody in Ireland rose from 3,321 during 2007 to 4,318 during 2012, an increase of over 30%. Likewise the total number of committals to prison also rose sharply during the same period, from 11,934 in 2007 to 17,026 in 2012 – an increase of over 43%.
2013 saw the first significant decrease in prison numbers since 2007. There were 15,735 committals to prison in 2013 which was a decrease of 7.6% on the 2012 figure. The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody has also dropped in recent years. The average number in custody for 2014 was 3,916 a reduction of 10.8% on the 2011 average of 4,390.
The Deputy may wish to note that the number in custody reached a peak of 4,621 on 23rd February 2011. Today there are 884 less prisoners in custody which represents a decrease of 18%.
244. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the development of Cloverhill, County Dublin, and Loughan House, County Cavan; the expected date for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17257/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there are no plans at present for the further development of the facilities at either Cloverhill, Dublin or Loughan House, County Cavan.
245. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans for Harristown House, Castlerea, County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17258/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there are no plans to alter the current use of Harristown House. The Deputy will be aware that Harristown House, on the grounds of Castlerea Prison, opened in 2013 for use as a step-down facility for prisoners coming towards the end of lengthy sentences as a means of assisting them in re-integrating into society upon release.
I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that the Parole Board has been requested to consider recommending the transfer of prisoners, particularly life-sentenced prisoners coming towards the end of their sentences to the facility. Recommendations can be considered by the board in circumstances where the board is of the view that such prisoners would benefit from such a transfer with a view to successfully re-integrating them into society and to assist them in leading law-abiding lives upon eventual release. Any such prisoners recommended for transfer to Harristown House will be subject to the normal risk assessments conducted by the Irish Prison Service.
246. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the development of Limerick Prison, A and B wings; the final specifications regarding the number and size of cells; the expected date for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17259/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that a business case for the modernisation of facilities in Limerick Prison has recently been approved in principle by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform – meaning that the proposed development can now proceed to detailed design & tender stage. Consequently, the Irish Prison Service is now preparing the statutory planning procedure under Part IX of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001 - 2013 and is simultaneously preparing tender documentation for the works.
The development as currently envisaged includes the replacement of the out-dated A and B wings by the construction of a new block of 150 cells as well as the provision of high quality accommodation for female prisoners in a stand-alone unit with capacity for approximately 50 individual cells and 8 custodial apartments. The cells will be approximately 12 square meters each which is in excess of the Inspector of Prisons recommendations for double occupancy.
Subject to the completion of the tender process and final sanction being obtained it is expected that the project will commence in mid-2016 with a completion date of late 2018.
However, that timescale is dependent on further approval with respect to the signing of a contract and to sufficient resources being available to the Irish Prison Service.
247. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the development of an aged prisoner facility in Shelton Abbey Prison, County Wicklow; the expected date for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17260/15]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that their Strategic Plan 2012-2015 includes a commitment that the Irish Prison Service will, in conjunction with other key stakeholders, devise specific strategies for older prisoners. The main reason for this is because there has been a significant increase in the number of older prisoners in the prison system. Information collated from the end of month snapshot taken by the Irish Prison Service on Saturday 31st January 2015, indicated there were 223 prisoners in custody aged 55 and over, 26 of whom were on remand.
Work on the development and implementation of this strategy is underway and will be implemented over the lifetime of the Strategic Plan. In line with this commitment the Irish Prison Service is currently finalising a policy document for older prisoners. The Policy will seek to ensure that older adults in prison are identified as specific groups of individuals who have particular needs within the prison population. Central to the development of tailored services for older prisoners, is the development of a specific facility to better cater for the needs of older persons. The Irish Prison Service is considering a number of options, and I understand that the publication of the Older Persons Policy and an announcement of proposals to develop a dedicated facility for older prisoners will be made later in the year.
