Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:1069. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the status of plans to place the Irish Prison Service on a statutory footing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12998/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 March 2023
Questions (1069)
Written answers
On 28 June 2022 the Government gave approval to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to place the Irish Prison Service (IPS) on a full statutory footing with a non-executive Board and other structures that align with best practice in the governance of State bodies. Drafting of the Scheme is well advanced with a view to its submission to Government in the coming months.
The IPS is currently a non-statutory executive agency of the Department of Justice responsible for the secure custody, care and rehabilitation of offenders in each of Ireland’s 12 prisons. It has approximately 3,500 staff and a budget of over €420 million in 2023.
The Programme for Government commits to a range of penal reform measures that require substantial and ongoing modernisation of prison services and practices. This includes an enhanced focus on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism, assisting prisoners with mental health, addiction and other personal difficulties, and upgrading the prison estate. At the same time, like other State agencies, the IPS must meet a growing and demanding variety of governance and performance obligations.
A full statutory footing for the IPS, with oversight and support from an expert non-executive board and committees, will cement its status as a key criminal justice body and strengthen its capacity to implement penal reform and maintain the highest standards of governance and performance. The planned legislation will define the functions of the IPS in law, with these functions to include providing safe and secure custody, upholding human rights, and supporting the well-being and rehabilitation of prisoners with a focus on reducing post-release recidivism. Other statutory functions will include managing the prison estate and co-operating with other State actors in the interests of prisoner welfare and an efficient criminal justice system.
The proposed legislation will also place the role of IPS Director General on a statutory footing with overall responsibility and accountability for managing the prison system and its staff within a policy framework set by the Government and the Minister.