Vol. 572 No. 6
348 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of female prisoners in Mountjoy Prison given temporary release from 6 October 2003 to 13 October 2003, inclusive; and the comparable figures for the previous week. [24015/03]
During the period of 6 to 13 October 2003 four female prisoners were granted early release from the Dóchas Centre. That figure compares with a total of three such releases for the preceding week. Short periods of temporary release are also granted daily to selected prisoners for humanitarian or constructive and rehabilitative reasons such as attending educational and-or training programmes or courses. That type of temporary release may range from a few hours to a number of days. I can tell the Deputy that, during the period about which he has asked, there were, on average, 35 prisoners per day on such temporary release from the Dóchas Centre. That compares with an average of 38 for the previous week.
