Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 108-129

Refugee Resettlement Programme

Questions (108)

Clare Daly

Question:

108. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps she is taking to speed up the resettlement of refugees in Ireland through relocation and resettlement programmes given that Ireland has taken only a small number of refugees over the past year out of the 4,000 agreed; and the consideration that has been given to increasing the number of refugees Ireland has agreed to resettle, given that the global refugee crisis is continuing to worsen. [11900/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The Deputy will be aware that under last September's Government decision which established the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), approximately 2,600 asylum seekers are to be taken in from migration hotspots in Italy and Greece under the new EU relocation programme and 520 refugees are being taken in from Lebanon under Ireland's Refugee Resettlement programme. The mechanism by which the balance of the 4,000 will be decided by Government shortly.

In relation to the Resettlement Programme, Ireland is on schedule with regard to its commitment to take in 520 programme refugees with 273 refugees having arrived to date and the remaining 247 scheduled to arrive by the end of 2016.

The pace at which asylum seekers have arrived under the relocation part of the programme has been regrettably slow due to issues outside of Ireland's control, such as resource issues on the ground and the unwillingness of migrants to apply for asylum at migration hotspots - a pre-requisite for entering the relocation programme. Ireland has made pledges to Italy and Greece totalling 101 persons, but due to these issues only 10 have been relocated to the State thus far, a single Syrian family who arrived in January. Officials of my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have been working closely with authorities in both States and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to help resolve problems at migration hotspots in the hope of speeding up the allocation of people to Ireland under relocation. A further 31 Syrians are expected to be relocated to the State from Greece during June and another 40 are expected towards the end of July. Thereafter the Greek authorities have indicated they could allocate approximately 40 asylum seekers to Ireland every 8 weeks, however, the State has indicated to Greece that we are willing to take in people in larger groups if they are able to supply them.

Traveller Projects Funding

Questions (109)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

109. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of funding Travellers' initiatives by 10%; 20% and 25%. [12556/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The total funding available to my Department in respect of Traveller and Roma initiatives for 2016 is €2,205,000, of which €1,350,000, in respect of funding for Traveller community groups and national-level NGOs, transferred to my Department from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government on 01 January 2016. This was in addition to a sum of €550,000 which transferred to my Department from the Department of Social Protection (for the Special Initiative for Travellers) on 01 January 2015.

My Department is currently undertaking a review of the funding in relation to Traveller and Roma initiatives for 2017 to take account of needs and of emerging priorities for the new Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy which will be in place later this year. The review will be completed in time for consideration in the context of the 2017 Estimates process. Details of any adjustments to the current allocation for Traveller and Roma initiatives will be announced in due course in the normal way as part of the 2017 Estimates.

Garda Expenditure

Questions (110, 111, 123)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

110. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the full year cost of recruiting and training 100 additional members of An Garda Síochána in 2017. [12557/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

111. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of training of new members of An Garda Síochána. [12558/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

123. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of recruiting sufficient members of An Garda Síochána in 2017 to meet targets of a 15,000, 15,500 and 16,000 strong force; and the additional budgetary allocation required where the numbers reach each of these levels. [12578/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 111 and 123 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that payroll costs for new Garda recruits include a basic allowance of €184 per week plus a living allowance of €77.92. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale €23,750 rising to a maximum of €45,793 per annum after 19 years. They may also qualify for other allowances depending on their assignments.

The number of members in An Garda Síochána as of 31 March was 12,866. Based on this figure, the year one cost of increasing the strength of the force to 15,000, 15,500 and 16,000 (assuming a commencement date of 1 January) is, I am informed, approximately €41 million, €50 million and €60 million respectively, although increasing Garda numbers to such an extent immediately is not feasible due to the training requirements Gardaí must undergo. It should be noted that these costs reflect the pre and post attestation payroll costs for the first year. These figures include Employer's PRSI but exclude any allowances which the recruits may qualify for following attestation. Moreover the annual cost will obviously increase as the members’ move up the Garda pay scale each year.

I am further advised that the cost of training recruits is subsumed into the overall training costs of the Garda College and is not easily identifiable. However, the total cost of running the Garda College in 2015 was approximately €19m, which includes the salary costs of all College personnel.

Garda Recruitment

Questions (112)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

112. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the intake of Garda Síochána recruits at Templemore College during each of the years 2012 to 2016 to date and the projected intake for the remainder of 2016. [12559/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000.

The Garda College reopened in September 2014 with the first intake of new recruits since 2009. Since then a total of 700 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 450 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. To date there have been seven intakes of Garda Trainees to the Garda College, giving a total intake of 700, broken down as follows, 200 in 2014, 350 in 2015 and 150 so far this year. It is expected that there will be a further intake into the Garda College of 150 trainees next month, with further intakes scheduled for September and November of this year. This will bring the number of new recruits to 1,150 by the end of 2016.

So far 395 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties and are on the ground in communities nationwide. It is expected that a further 300 trainees will attest by the end of this year which, when taking account of projected retirements, will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year.

We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I will be engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake this year and in coming years. In accelerating recruitment it is, of course, essential to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to train larger numbers without any diminution in the quality of its excellent Bachelor of Arts in Applied Policing, and to provide appropriate supervision and support to newly qualified Gardaí to ensure that victims, and the public generally, are well served by their policing service. My officials will be engaging with Garda management and also with the Public Appointments Service as a matter of priority in relation to the preparation of a recruitment plan for the next five years that will deliver increased numbers of Gardaí without any compromise on the quality of those recruited or the training programme.

Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 107.

Irish Prison Service

Questions (114)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

114. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average annual cost of an available staffed prison place. [12562/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I can advise the Deputy that the average annual cost of an available staffed prison space for 2015, was €68,628, which is a slight decrease on the equivalent 2014 figure of €68,959.

Prison Committals

Questions (115)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

115. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons imprisoned for sentences of less than six months in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date; and the number of these that are sentences related to violent or sexual crime. [12563/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that the number of persons imprisoned for sentences of less than six months in each of the years 2011 to 2015 is set out in the table; figures for 2016 are not available yet. The number of committals is higher than the number of persons imprisoned as a person may be committed more than once.

Year	Number of persons imprisoned for sentences less than six months	Number of committals imprisoned for sentences less than six months
2015	10,152	11,502
2014	9,454	10,610
2013	8,938	10,085
2012	9,266	10,571
2011	8,615	9,856

	Year 2011	Year 2012	Year 2013	Year 2014	Year 2015
Offence
Sexual offences	9	10	13	5	12
Attempts or threats of murder, assaults, harassments and related offences	277	239	222	194	201
Dangerous or negligent acts	1,051	996	828	739	717
Kidnapping and related offences	0	0	0	0	1
Robbery, extortion and hijacking offences	6	1	1	8	2
Burglary and related offences	115	107	87	82	73
Theft and related offences	616	679	661	657	657
Fraud, deception and related offences	303	281	321	306	274
Controlled drug offences	442	502	513	468	508
Weapons and explosives offences	108	78	94	92	69
Damage to property and to the environment	264	296	267	292	262
Public order and other social code offences	1,662	1,775	1,590	1,481	1,338
Road and traffic offences	3,390	3,830	3,709	4,107	4,705
Offences against Government, Justice and Organise Crime	1,117	1,168	997	1,266	1,615
Offences not elsewhere classified.	496	609	782	913	1,068
Total	9,856	10,571	10,085	10,610	11,502

Prison Facilities

Questions (116, 152)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

116. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the prisons in which slopping out still takes place; and the cost of ending this practice in each prison. [12564/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

152. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to ensure all prisoners have 24 hour access to private toilet facilities. [12669/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 152 together.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that as of the 12th February 2016, 98% of all prisoners have 24-hour access to toilet facilities. The number slopping out has decreased from 1,003 at the end of 2010 to just 56 on 7 April 2016, (Limerick 32 and Portlaoise 24).

I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that construction of a new wing at Limerick prison is planned to commence in the first quarter of next year. The Irish Prison Service has also recently finalised a business case for the construction of a replacement for the E-Block at Portlaoise prison. Subject to the necessary approvals and the availability of finance it is hoped to commence construction works there in mid-2017. When these developments are complete the practice of slopping out will have been completely eradicated from all of the prison estate.

Garda Expenditure

Questions (117)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

117. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current annual budget and annual rental costs of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. [12565/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The budget for the Garda Síochána Inspectorate for 2016 is €1,255,000 of which €83,640 relates to rental costs.

Civil Legal Aid

Questions (118)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

118. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of reducing the application fee for civil legal aid to €100 and to €50. [12572/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy may be aware, the Legal Aid Board seeks a minimum contribution of €30 for legal advice and €130 for legal aid (which includes the advice contribution of €30). The contribution payable by a person in receipt of legal aid or advice is set by the Minister for Justice and Equality by way of the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2016. The minimum legal aid contribution was raised from €50 to €130 in September 2013 as a result of a 2013 Legal Aid Board review of the financial eligibility criteria. Since then the Board has made no further proposals to change the eligibility requirements.

No contribution is payable in respect of the defence of proceedings brought by the Child and Family Agency under the Child Care Act 1991. Practically all other cases require the applicant to pay a contribution unless it is fully or partially waived on hardship grounds.

Based on the number of legal aid certificates issued in 2015, the estimated cost of reducing the minimum contribution from €130 to €100 would be approximately €230,000 in a calendar year. The estimated cost of reducing the minimum contribution from €130 to €50 would be approximately €605,000 on the same basis. However, it should be noted that any such reduction would reduce the resources available to the Board and could have a consequential negative impact on service delivery and waiting times.

Courts Service Administration

Questions (119, 121)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

119. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of establishing a pilot specialist court to deal solely with applications for orders under the Domestic Violence Act and to reduce the waiting period to a maximum of two weeks; if she has sufficient spare capacity to establish this within the District Court Family Law Courthouse, Dolphin House, East Essex Street, Dublin 2. [12573/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

121. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the outcome of a proposal to reorganise District Court business in Dublin and the cost of implementing these proposals. [12575/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business is a matter for the respective Presidents of the courts and the presiding judge who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions.

However, in order to be of assistance, I have had inquiries made and have been informed by the Courts Service that, following consultation with the President of the District Court, a re-organisation of the business of the District Court in Dublin has been agreed which will increase the number of courtrooms dedicated to District Court family law in the city centre from five to eight. This initiative has been designed to reduce waiting times across all family law case types, including domestic violence applications. The increased availability of courtrooms in Dolphin House will allow for the prioritisation of applications, including domestic violence applications, and will bring about a reduction in waiting times.

I am informed that, as part of the re-organisation, it is necessary to undertake some changes to the configuration of the courthouse in Chancery Street to provide additional consultation rooms. The plans for this work are currently under consideration and estimated costs are not yet available. It is expected that the work will commence during August 2016 and, subject to satisfactory completion, it is expected that the additional courtroom capacity will be available in Dolphin House during Autumn 2016.

Courts Service

Questions (120)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

120. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the outcome of the assessment by the Courts Service of the availability of suitable accommodation in the commercial market to address accommodation issues in Dolphin House, Dublin 2. [12574/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions.

However, in order to be of assistance, I have had inquiries made and I am informed that the Courts Service is aware that the court accommodation in Dolphin House and for family law in Dublin generally is not at all what they would desire it to be. It is for this reason that there are plans for a dedicated and integrated Family Law and Children’s Court building on a site at Church Street and Hammond Lane, adjacent to the Four Courts. This will provide new family law courts for the District, Circuit and High Courts in a single location with associated facilities. This project is part of the Government’s capital expenditure programme for 2016 - 2021 and is to be delivered by way of Public Private Partnership. Work is currently underway on the planning and design of the building. More immediately, the Courts Service proposes that additional facilities for child care cases will be provided in a courthouse in Chancery Street which will be available later this year. I am informed that this will alleviate pressure on accommodation in Dolphin House and will address some of the shortcomings in that building.

Question No. 121 answered with Question No. 119.

Probation and Welfare Service

Questions (122)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

122. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of ensuring the Probation and Welfare Service provides expert child welfare and safety assessments to the courts in family law matters to assist the courts in making custody and access determinations in circumstances of domestic violence. [12576/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The Probation Service does not currently provide family law assessment reports to the Courts.

Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 110.

Commencement of Legislation

Questions (124)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

124. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason she has not yet signed the Commencement Order to give effect to sections 10 to 13, inclusive, and 17, 39, 40, 41 and 42 of the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 which would enable senior promotions in An Garda Síochána to be decided upon by the Policing Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12636/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

The sections to which the Deputy refers contain provisions essentially enabling the Policing Authority to appoint and remove persons from positions in An Garda Síochána.

Section 17 envisages that the Authority will assume certain functions in relation to the civilian staff of An Garda Síochána, including the appointment by the Authority of persons to grades that are equivalent to or above that of chief superintendent. Commencement of this section was held over pending the completion of the recent open recruitment competition for the post of the Chief Administrative Officer in An Garda Síochána, the arrangements for which had been in train before the establishment of the Authority on 1 January 2016.

I am happy to inform the Deputy that I have recently signed the Order commencing section 17 with effect from 31 May 2016. This will enable the Authority to appoint the successful candidate and assume its other functions in relation to the civilian staff of An Garda Síochána.

Sections 10, 11 and 13 contain provisions governing the removal of the Garda Commissioner, Deputy Garda Commissioners, Assistant Garda Commissioners, chief superintendents and superintendents, including the procedures to be followed before such removal.

Section 12 deals with the appointment by the Authority of persons to the ranks of Assistant Garda Commissioner, chief superintendent and superintendent.

Sections 39 to 42 deal with appointments and secondments between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána and the procedures to deal with disciplinary matters in relation to persons comprehended by those sections.

The commencement of these sections, other than section 17, is dependent on the regulations governing promotion and discipline in An Garda Síochána being amended to reflect the envisaged role for the Authority.

In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner and the Policing Authority must be consulted on any proposed changes to these regulations. In addition, the Garda representative bodies must be consulted in accordance with the Garda Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme.

Work on the preparation of the proposed regulation changes is being expedited in my Department with a view to the appointment function being transferred as quickly as possible and I would hope that this work will be completed in July. In relation to the role envisaged for the Authority in the removal process, I hope that the necessary preparatory work can be completed this year.

Penal Policy Review Group

Questions (125)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

125. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to give a clear commitment to a coherent and evidence informed penal policy grounded in crime data analysis which is made public. [12637/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware the Penal Policy Review Group was established in 2012, in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group. The terms of reference for the Group included an examination and analysis of the role of penal policy in crime prevention; sentencing policies; alternatives to custody; custodial accommodation and regimes; reintegration and rehabilitation; and any special issues relating to female offenders.

In November 2014, I submitted the Report of the Review Group to the Government. The Report contains 43 recommendations relating, inter alia, to an increased focus on effective data management and to my Department joining with all Government Departments and agencies to facilitate and support research in order to assist in the formulation of penal policy.

Work is underway to progress the implementation of the recommendations of the Review Group. To this end I have established a Penal Policy Implementation Oversight Group. The Group is chaired by Dr. Mary Rogan, Associate Professor, School of Law, Trinity College who was a member of the review group. The Group organised a Workshop on 8 February 2016 of the key actors in order to discuss the recommendations of the Penal Policy Review Group and advance their implementation.

I expect to receive a report from the Implementation Oversight Group shortly setting out the state of implementation. It is also my intention to publish this report.

Finally, publication of Recidivism studies by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which are available on my Department's website www.justice.ie will allow the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service access to a comprehensive bank of data in relation to the rate of recidivism among ex-prisoners and offenders. Along with the implementation of the recommendations of the Penal Policy Review Group, this will help to inform future policy on the management of offenders and will facilitate the formulation of new strategies aimed at reducing recidivism.

Penal Policy Review Group Report

Questions (126)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

126. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if and when she will implement the recommendations of the cross-agency strategic review on penal policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12638/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy is aware, the Penal Policy Review Group was established in 2012 in line with the recommendations of the Thornton Hall Project Review Group to conduct a wide ranging strategic review of penal policy taking into account relevant work already carried out in this jurisdiction and elsewhere, the rights of those convicted of crimes, the perspective of those who are victims of crime, and the interests of society in general.

The terms of reference for the Group included an examination and analysis of the role of penal policy in crime prevention; sentencing policies; alternatives to custody; custodial accommodation and regimes; reintegration and rehabilitation; and any special issues relating to female offenders.

In November 2014, I submitted the Report of the Penal Policy Review Group to the Government. As an initial step, the Government agreed, in principle, to proceed immediately with the implementation of the following key recommendations:

- bringing forward legislative proposals to establish the Parole Board on an independent statutory basis;

- preparing proposals and options for Government on reform of sentencing policy including a review of the threshold at which presumptive minimum sentences in drugs and other offences apply;

- preparing proposals for Government on legislating for the review's recommendation that Courts set out in writing their reasons for imposing a custodial sentence;

- preparing proposals on the potential for increased use of earned remission; and

- pursuing options for an open prison for female offenders.

Work is underway to progress the implementation of these decisions. To this end I have established a Penal Policy Implementation Oversight Group. The Group is chaired by Dr. Mary Rogan, Associate Professor, School of Law, Trinity College who was a member of the review group. I expect to receive a report from this group shortly setting out the state of implementation. It is also my intention to publish this report.

Crime Prevention

Questions (127, 171)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

127. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will develop a discrete strategy for young adults of 18 to 24 years of age who are in conflict with the law, with particular emphasis on diversion, restorative justice, case management and other strategies proven to be most effective for this age group. [12639/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

171. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to extend diversion and inter-agency approaches to crime prevention to young persons up to 24 years of age. [12699/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 171 together.

As the Programme for Government states, we support the expansion of Local Drug Taskforce projects and Garda Youth Diversion Programmes for young people promoting restorative justice, and other voluntary organisations that contribute to our young people’s future direction.

The Deputy may be aware of the Report of the Penal Policy Review Group which was published in September 2014. The Review Group conducted a wide ranging strategic review of penal policy taking into account relevant work already completed in the jurisdiction and elsewhere, the rights of those convicted of crimes and the perspective of those who are victims of crime and the interests of society in general.

The Review Group’s Report contains 43 recommendations, one of which is that a programme similar to the Youth Diversion Programme be introduced for young people above the age of 18 years with an initial focus on 18 to 21 year olds. In this regard, the Review Group recommended that the relevant Departments and agencies, including An Garda Síochána, should immediately consult in relation to the most appropriate and effective means of targeting this group within the context of current and future resources. The Irish Youth Justice Service is currently engaged with An Garda Síochána in relation to the recommendation having regard to the experience of the existing Diversion Programme for persons under eighteen years of age. The Deputy might wish to note that the existing Diversion Programme is currently the subject of a comprehensive review by a group established by the Garda Commissioner. The outcome of this review will assist the Irish Youth Justice Service with its detailed consideration of the Penal Policy Review Group's recommendation.

Parole Boards

Questions (128)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

128. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to establish a fully independent Parole Board on a statutory basis. [12640/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

In September 2014 I published the report of the Penal Policy Review Group which was tasked with examining all aspects of penal policy including parole and other release mechanisms from prison.

The Report contains 43 recommendations. As an initial step, the Government agreed in principle in November 2014 to proceed with the implementation of a number of key recommendations, including the bringing forward of legislative proposals to establish a Parole Board on a statutory footing.

Work is underway within my Department on progressing this recommendation.

Prisoner Complaints Procedures

Questions (129, 155)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

129. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce an independent prisoner complaints mechanism. [12641/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

155. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will establish a prisoner ombudsman or extend the remit of the general Ombudsman to include complaints from prisoners. [12672/16]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 155 together.

In my response to Dáil Question 113 on 4 May 2016, I outlined details of the current prisoner complaints system which was introduced in the Irish Prison Service in November 2012 based on a model recommended by the Inspector of Prisons who has independent oversight of the process. It was introduced in acknowledgment that prisoners must have access to a credible and robust system that deals with genuine complaints in an open, transparent, and independent way.

As outlined in that reply, the Inspector of Prisons - who is independent of Government - has carried out a review of the current prisoner complaints procedure and has made a number of recommendations, including one relating to a possible role for an Ombudsman. My officials and I are currently examining those recommendations.