Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
216. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the decision has been made to move the office of the Inspector of Prisons from Nenagh, County Tipperary to Dublin; when the move is due to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9779/20]
View answer225. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the office of the Inspector of Prisons is to be moved from Nenagh, County Tipperary; the criteria or protocols being used for such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10016/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 225 together.
The main function of the Inspector of Prisons is to carry out regular inspections of prisons and places of detention in Ireland. It plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system and I was pleased to see an increase in the budget by €0.7m in Budget 2020, bringing the total allocation to €1.2 million this year.
The Inspector is independent in the performance of her functions and it has been a matter for the Inspector of the day to decide how the functions of the Office should be performed, within allocated resources.
I understand it has for some time been intended that the Office of the Inspector of Prisons would move from Nenagh, Co Tipperary to the greater Dublin area where a large percentage of the overall prison population are located and the advertisement for the role of Inspector in late 2017 reflected that. I understand that since 2018 the Office has been operating in two locations - in temporary office space in Dublin and the office in Nenagh - and that there are currently a very small number of staff in both of these locations.
While the office is small at present with a total of 5 staff, of whom 3 are in Dublin, there are plans to expand this cohort and recruitment is ongoing at present for roles at Inspector and Senior Inspector level. Work is also continuing to identify a permanent office in Dublin.
