Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2017
85. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners serving a life sentence, by prison; the number of life sentence prisoners who were released from prison each year since 2012 and the length of their sentences served; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15846/17]
View answerI have been informed by the Irish Prison Service that at present there are 352 Life Sentenced Prisoners in custody. Table 1 below gives the number of prisoners broken down by prison and gender on the 28th February 2017.
|
Establishment |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
39 |
39 |
|
|
Castlerea Prison |
16 |
16 |
|
|
Cloverhill Prison |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Cork Prison |
15 |
15 |
|
|
Limerick Prison (Female) |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Limerick Prison (Male) |
11 |
11 |
|
|
Loughan House |
12 |
12 |
|
|
Midlands Prison |
79 |
79 |
|
|
Mountjoy Prison (Female) |
9 |
9 |
|
|
Mountjoy Prison (Male) |
41 |
41 |
|
|
Portlaoise Prison |
24 |
24 |
|
|
Shelton Abbey |
16 |
16 |
|
|
Training Unit |
15 |
15 |
|
|
Wheatfield Place of Detention |
71 |
71 |
|
|
Total |
10 |
342 |
352 |
Life sentenced prisoners who are released into the community continue to serve their sentences and are subject to a number of stringent conditions. Table 2 gives an annual breakdown from 2012 - 2016 (inclusive), the number of prisoners granted temporary release in each year and the average length of sentence served prior to being granted temporary release.
|
Year of Reviewable Temporary Release |
Prisoners on Reviewable Temporary Release |
Approximate Average Length of Time Served Prior to Reviewable Temporary Release |
|
2016 |
7 |
22 Years |
|
2015 |
6 |
17 Years 6 Months |
|
2014 |
4 |
20 Years |
|
2013 |
4 |
17 Years 6 Months |
|
2012 |
4 |
22 Years |
