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Prisoner Releases

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 May 2012

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Ceisteanna (253, 254, 255)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

315 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate, having regard to previous parliamentary questions in respect of the selection of prisoners for day, casual, supervised or other forms of early release, the methodology used for the selection of such prisoners, whether done by internal or external authorities; the extent to which requests for such release are processed; the number of successful requests in each of the past two years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23020/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

316 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate the number of requests for early, casual, day or other forms of release received by the prison authorities in each of the prisons throughout the country in each of the past two years to date; the number of such applications approved and or refused in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23021/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

319 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate the number of applications received for casual, day or other forms of release in each of the prisons throughout the country in each of the past two years to date; the numbers refused in each case and those granted in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23024/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 315, 316 and 319 together.

The legislative basis for making decisions on temporary release are fully set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003.

Candidates for temporary release are identified by a number of different means but primarily on the recommendation of the Prison Governor or the therapeutic services in the prisons. The prisoner, their family or their legal representative can also apply for consideration of such a concession. Recommendations are also made to me in relation to long term sentence prisoners by the Parole Board. It is very important to note that it does not necessarily follow that a prisoner will receive temporary release even if the recommendation is to that effect. Each application is considered on its individual merits and evaluated using the following criteria as outlined in the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003.: the nature and gravity of the offence to which the sentence being served by the person relates; the sentence concerned and any recommendation made by the Court in relation to the sentence imposed; the period of the sentence served by the person; the potential threat to the safety and security of the public should the person be released; the person's previous criminal record; the risk of the person failing to return to prison at the expiration of the period of temporary release; the conduct of the person while in custody or while previously on temporary release; any report or recommendation made by the Governor, the Garda Síochána, a Probation and Welfare Officer, or any other person whom the Minister considers may be of assistance in coming to a decision as to whether to grant temporary release; the risk that the person might commit an offence during any period of temporary release; the risk of the person failing to comply with any of the conditions of temporary release; and the likelihood that a period of temporary release might accelerate the person's reintegration into society or improve his prospects of obtaining employment. Decisions are made at a senior level within the Irish Prison Service and by myself in respect of cases referred directly to me.

It is not possible to provide the Deputy with the breakdown of information requested as this would require the manual examination of records. Such an examination would require a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort and can not be justified in current circumstances where there are other significant demands on resources. However, it is anticipated that through the new Prison Information Management System (PIMS), which was introduced in March this year in the Prison Service, that I will be able to provide such data in the future.

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