Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
293. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the steps taken by her Department and the Irish Prison Service to fully screen toilets in multi-occupancy prison cells; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3479/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service provides a range of accommodation across the prison estate. This includes traditional cellular accommodation in closed male prisons, including a mix of single, double, triple and multi-occupancy cells. In addition, dormitory and bedroom style accommodation is provided in open/semi open male prisons and bedroom and/or apartment style accommodation is provided in female prisons.
All traditional prison cells across the prison estate, with the exception of the Portlaoise Prison E-Block, now include in-cell sanitation. This includes the provision of a toilet and wash hand basin and can include a modesty screen to protect the privacy of the cell user and maintain an appropriate line of sight for staff who must be able to monitor the prisoner at all times for security and safety reasons.
I can advise the Deputy that fully enclosed en-suite toilet facilities are provided in male accommodation located at Loughan House and Shelton Abbey and for prisoners accommodated in the Training Unit and for those accommodated in the houses in the Grove semi-open prison accommodation at Castlerea Prison.
It is not possible to introduce fully partitioned toilet facilities in traditional closed prison cells as to do so would negatively impact on the availability of living space within the cell. This could lead to the requirement to reduce the capacity of a large number of cells across the prison estate, which is not possible due to the current numbers in custody and current committal trends.
The introduction of a fully partitioned toilet in such cells would also impact on the ability of prison staff to monitor the cell occupant at all times which could impact on the safety and security of cell occupants.
I can advise the Deputy that, in an effort to enhance to privacy for cell occupants, while using toilet facilities, the Irish Prison Service is finalising arrangements for the installation of a new modesty curtain in multi-occupancy cells in Wheatfield Prison. This pilot project, which will be implemented in Q1 this year, will test the suitability of this new privacy curtain and will inform the best method of installation taking account of health and safety requirements.
The pilot project aims to provide greater privacy to the cell user while maintaining the safety and security of the cell occupants. The pilot will be reviewed in Q3 2024 and, if successful, will be rolled out to other cells in the second half of 2024.
