Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 7 September 2018
501. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 420 of 21 April 2015 and 151 of 31 May 2016, if the findings of the pilot scheme (details supplied) will be published; when cell share risk assessments will be implemented in all prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36541/18]
View answerI am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that a committal risk assessment process has been built into the Prisoner Information Management System (PIMS). The learning derived from the pilot cell share scheme in the Midlands Prison was incorporated into the development of the new risk assessment process. This process alongside existing information contained on Prisoner Information Management allows a prison Governor to make an informed recommendation with regard to cell sharing, where a risk or need has been identified. This Prisoner Information Management development was deployed on 21 June 2018 and is now operational in all prisons.
The pillars identified for prisoner risk/needs analysis at Governor committal stage are 1. prison accommodation, 2. work/training suitability and 3. security (including escorts). Where a prisoner specific risk or need is identified in any of these three areas, recommendations for intervention are recorded and all reasonable steps are taken by the relevant provider of this service to ensure that appropriate interventions are provided leading to a safer environment for all stakeholders including prisoners, staff, visitors, and the wider community.
