Peadar Tóibín
Question:801. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice if male-born sex offenders will be located in the new women’s prison; and if prisoners will have access to communal spaces within the prison. [47507/23]
View answerTuesday, 7 November 2023
Questions (801)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Prison Service must provide safe and secure custody for all people committed to its care and safe working conditions for all of its staff.
Where a court makes an order committing a person to a prison, the Prison Service must accept that person into custody in whichever prison is specified by the court. While all prisoners committed are accommodated in accordance with their legal gender and having regard to their safety and the safety of the wider prison population, it should be noted that Irish prisons are not legally defined as 'male' or 'female' prisons.
On arrival in prison, the Prison Governor will consider all aspects of the health and well-being of the person arriving, and of the whole prison population.
The Governor may make a recommendation on the appropriate placement within the prison system for the person concerned, taking into consideration good order, security and operational issues, protection issues, available accommodation and the healthcare needs and human rights of the individual, as well as the safety and security of the prison population more generally.
The strengths, needs and risk profile of each individual are continuously assessed, taking into account the views of the prison-based professional multi-disciplinary team, to determine the most appropriate placement across the prison estate to support their safety and wellbeing and that of the staff body and wider prison population.