asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners at present in institutions of penal servitude in the State, the number of these convicted and the number on remand, the differences in the conditions of servitude under both categories, the average and longest length of time that any remand prisoner is in custody in any of the institutions, and if delays in adjudication for remand prisoners can be improved upon.
Written Answers. - Penal Servitude Prisoners.
401.
On 9 November 1979 1,166 persons were detained in the prisons and places of detention. Of these, 1,078 were serving sentences and 88 were on remand or awaiting trial.
As a general rule prisoners on remand or awaiting trial are kept segregated from other prisoners, though in some instances a person on remand or awaiting trial may specifically ask to be permitted to associate with a group of convicted prisoners. They are not obliged to work other than to the extent of keeping their cells clean and tidy.
The average length of time that has been spent on remand by those in custody on that date referred to is 31 days. The longest period is 463 days. this is an exceptional case in which the trial has been adjourned from time to time because of requests from defence counsel for adjournment.
As far as the courts are concerned, there is no avoidable delay in bringing remand prisoners to trial. Trials of remand prisoners are given priority over trials of persons remanded on bail but delays can arise either because of application by the defence for adjournments or, in cases where there may be large numbers of witnesses or for some other special reason, the preparation of books of evidence by the prosecution taking longer than usual.