Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 5 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 2

Written Answers. - Prisoner Levels.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

121 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of men and women in custody; the number that were in custody on 28 March 1999 and 28 March 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10261/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The figures requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table:

Date	Male prisoners in custody	Female prisoners in custody	Total number in custody
29 March 2001	3,010	103	3,113
28 March 2000	2,796	86	2,882
29 March 1999	2,707	73	2,780

Since I took office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I have presided over an unprecedented investment in our prison infrastructure. In all more than 1,200 additional prison spaces have been provided with a further 700 closed spaces on the way.

For the first time in 25 years, we can accommodate almost all those sentenced by the courts for the full duration of their sentences. I qualify this statement only by reference to the female prison population where we currently have higher than anticipated committal numbers and for whom extra spaces will be provided shortly.

The overall percentage of sentenced prisoners on temporary release has, as a result of this Government's building programme to date, been reduced from 19% in 1997 to a current figure of about 6%. Almost all prisoners on early release at present are on structured programmes, in many cases under the direct supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service. Those not on structured programmes have been temporarily released for valid compassionate reasons, ill health or family related circumstances.

The impact of this cut in unplanned temporary releases on the level of indictable crime in this jurisdiction is clear and irrefutable. The whole architecture of community sanctions depends on the custodial places being available to ensure that the sanction of last resort can be applied to offenders if they do not avail of the non-custodial options open to them.