Vol. 455 No. 8
255 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice if she will undertake an immediate review of the revolving door policy in our prisons; and the number of prisoners on early release who reoffended over the past two years. [12880/95]
306 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the number of offenders who have been charged and convicted of criminal offences committed while on temporary release from a place of detention in the State in each of the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13264/95]
I propose to take Question Nos. 255 and 306 together. I presume that the Deputy is referring to the granting of temporary release to offenders under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1960.
The majority of offenders qualify for some element of early release by way of temporary release at some point during their sentences. The temporary release system is also used to grant short periods of release to offenders for such reasons as family funerals, examinations, attendance at training courses etc. This granting of temporary release or parole, as it is called in some countries, is a feature of prison systems worldwide and has been operated by successive Ministers for Justice since 1960
