Patrick Costello
Question:311. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the proposed timeline on the removal of Covid-19-related restrictions on the prison system. [4091/22]
View answerThursday, 27 January 2022
Questions (311)
Written answers
The Irish Prison Service has continued to review and modify Covid-19 restrictions throughout the pandemic.
Restrictive measures have been modified in line with the various announcements made by Government and in line with advice from Public Health/HSE and the Irish Prison Service National Infection Control Team.
In 2021, the unwinding of restrictions was linked to the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in prisons. As a result of the successful roll out of the programme to all prisons, the Service was able to unwind a significant amount of measures in all locations with the exception of Cloverhill Prison which did not have a critical mass of prisoners vaccinated at the time.
In October 2021, following the latest advice from Government, the Prison Service commenced a significant unwinding of measures in line with similar action taken in the community.
This included:
- the recommencement of physical visits in all locations (except Cloverhill Prison),
- the removal on the restriction preventing the mixing of prisoners from different areas within the prison,
- the return of constructive activities to full capacity,
- the recommencement of prisoner temporary release programmes, and
- the resumption of religious services.
The resumption of these services was contingent on the continuation of a number of infection control measures to ensure the health and safety of both staff/service providers and prisoners.
A number of other restrictions were retained at that time including the continued suspension of non-essential prison visits, the continued suspension of group gatherings including award ceremonies and presentations, the continued need to maintain social distancing and the wearing of face coverings in line with both public health guidance and Government restrictions in place in the community.
The Irish Prison Service introduced a Covid-19 Contingency Plan which is implemented during an outbreak of the virus within a prison. Under this Plan restrictions are introduced to prevent the spread of Covid within the prison and these include the suspension of physical visits, the closure of staff gyms and the introduction of a restricted regime for prisoners in the infected area while mass testing is underway.
The Irish Prison Service has been managing a number of Covid-19 outbreaks in prisons since November 2021 which have resulted in a significant number of prisoners testing positive for the virus.
The Service intends to conduct a further review of remaining restrictions once all outbreaks have been successfully concluded and the unwinding of these measures will be determined by the level of risk posed to prisons at that time.