Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2024
314. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice how many inspections of the Dóchas Centre have been carried out since 2019 by the Office of Inspector of Prisons; how many reports have been published; how many have not; the nature of any reports not published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4654/24]
View answerThe Inspector of Prisons is a statutory office holder, independent in the performance of his functions, in accordance with the Prisons Act 2007.
Section 31(1) of the Prisons Act 2007 places an obligation on the Inspector of Prisons to carry out regular inspections of prisons in Ireland. Under section 31(2) the Inspector may, and shall if so requested by the Minister for Justice, investigate any matter arising out of the management or operation of a prison and shall submit a report to the Minister on any such investigation.
Since 2019, the Inspector of Prisons has conducted five inspections of the Dochas Centre. The Minister has received four reports, two have been published and two remain unpublished on foot of legal advice. These two unpublished reports are an investigation report, under section 31(2) of the Prisons Act, and an associated supplementary report.
The Minister awaits one report from the Inspector of Prisons.
The two published reports are: COVID-19 Thematic Inspection of Mountjoy Women’s Prison - Dochas Centre , 14-15 September, which was published on 28 April 2022 and Oversight Monitoring Visit During COVID-19 Pandemic - Mountjoy Female Prison (Dóchas Centre), 5 August 2020, which was published on 25 January 2024. Both reports have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published on gov.ie.
