asked the Minister for Justice if he is satisfied with the rules and regulations obtaining where prisoners are being given early release due to the fact that prisons are over-crowded; and if he is satisfied that due care and consideration is given in order that persons who have only recently been sentenced for very serious offences, including attacks on individuals, are not released before at least a certain amount of their sentence has been completed.
Written Answers. - Release of Prisoners.
160.
Rules made under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1960 provide for the temporary release of prisoners and I am not aware of any difficulty to which these rules give rise.
Each case being considered for release is carefully assessed with particular regard to the nature of the offence, the length of sentence served, behaviour while in custody, previous criminal history and the Garda view of the likely threat to the community which a particular release might involve. All releases are made subject to conditions and a person in breach of these is liable to rearrest and return to custody. The Deputy will appreciate that pressure on accommodation is only one of a number of factors which may give rise to temporary release of prisoners.