Prison Service

Tuesday, 26 July 2022

Questions (1525, 1527)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1525. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons currently in prison in the State. [39911/22]

View answer

1527. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons currently in prison in the State who have previously served separate prison sentences for previous offences [39913/22]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1525 and 1527 together.

I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that on 21 July 2022 there were 4,188 persons in custody, of whom 2,430 had previous sentenced custodial periods.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government 2020 contains a broad range of policies and proposals that represent a coherent approach to enhancing and sustaining a more just and safe society with a specific commitment to review policy options for prison and penal reform. Work focused on reducing reoffending is an important part of this.

Justice Plan 2022 commits to the publication of a Penal Policy Action Plan for 2022-2024. As part of this work, a cross-sectoral group which includes the Head of Criminal Justice Policy in my Department, the Director-General of the Irish Prison Service and the Director of the Probation Service, was established in September 2020 to devise the action plan. This work will, inter alia, build on a number of initiatives that have been introduced over the past decade to reduce reoffending, including Community Return and Community Support Schemes and the Joint Agency Response to Crime (JARC).

The action plan, which is the report of the cross-sectoral group tasked with undertaking this review, is expected to be published shortly. The appropriate use of non-custodial sanctions and the role they can play in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing protection to the public, while holding the individual accountable, is among the issues the group will make recommendations on.

We also know the role that mental health issues and addiction play in reoffending and the Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a Task Force to consider the mental health and addiction issues of persons in prison and primary care support on release. It also acknowledges the recent Mental Health Policy “Sharing the Vision” and commits to establishing the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee to oversee this work.

In April 2021, I established the Taskforce in conjunction with the Minister for Health. The work of the Taskforce is continuing apace and the aim is to shortly finalise a report, including a high level implementation plan assigning responsibility and timelines for its recommendations, as the implementation obligations will fall to a range of Departments and bodies.

Question No. 1526 answered with Question No. 1523

Question No. 1527 answered with Question No. 1525.