Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
441. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice for information on the total number of decisions for release made by the former Interim Parole Board relating specifically to determinate sentence prisoners in 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2551/24]
View answerThe role of the Interim Parole Board was to review the cases of long term sentenced prisoners and make recommendations to the Minister in relation to the administration of those sentences; for the sake of clarity, it is worth emphasising that it was the Minister who made decisions in relation to such matters, rather than the Interim Parole Board.
The interim Parole Board commenced operations in 2001; it concluded operations in July 2021 due to the establishment of the statutory Parole Board.
I regret that it is not possible to provide the figures requested by the Deputy as to do so would involve a manual review of the files reviewed by the Interim Parole Board during this period; however, I have asked my officials to write to you separately on this issue.
I can further advise the Deputy that the Annual Reports of the Interim Parole Board are available on Gov.ie and contain further detailed information on the work of the Board, including statistical data, which may be helpful.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/2e75e-parole-board-annual-reports/
