Dan Neville
Ceist:289 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners convicted of sexual offences; and the number convicted of child sexual offences. [25458/98]
Written Answers - Sexual Offences.
There were 291 sex offenders in custody in prisons and places of detention as of Friday, 20 November 1998. Records are not maintained in a fashion which would allow the precise information sought by the Deputy to be furnished. However, an examination of offenders files indicates that at least 104 of these have been convicted of child sexual offences. The prison authorities would not necessarily be aware in all cases whether the victim of a convicted sex offender was a child.