Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2017
298. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in the closed prison estate who have daily access to a minimum of seven hours of educational and vocational programmes from Monday to Friday. [32285/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that it endeavours to allow prisoners to spend as much time as possible each day out of their cell or room. Rule 27(3) of the Prison Rules 2007 states "In so far as is practicable, each convicted prisoner should be engaged in authorised structured activity for a period of not less than five hours on each of five days in each week".
In general prison cells are unlocked at approximately 8.15 a.m. each morning for breakfast. Prisoners collect breakfast and return to cells, which are then locked from 8.45am to 9.15am, when cells are again unlocked so that they can attend work, school, visits and exercise. They return for lunch at 12 noon and cells are locked at 12.30 p.m. Afternoon unlock commences at 2.15 p.m. and people in custody return to structured activities in schools, workshops and visits. Evening tea is served from 4 p.m. and cells are locked from 4.30 p.m. to 5.20 p.m. when evening recreation commences until all cells are locked at 7.30 p.m.
I am further advised by the Irish Prison Service that it provides a wide range of rehabilitative programmes to persons in custody that include education, vocational training, healthcare, psychiatric, psychological, counselling, welfare and spiritual services. These programmes offer purposeful activity to those in custody while serving their sentences and encourage them to lead law abiding lives on release. These programmes are available in all prisons and all persons in custody are eligible to use the services.
It should also be noted that the levels of access to services by prisoners is dependent on staffing levels on any particular day. Prisons may experience staffing shortfalls on any given day for a number of reasons, including the number of escorts of prisoners to court or prisoners being admitted to hospital which requires staff to leave the prison. On such occasions, prisons are now implementing Regime Management plans which help to ensure that access to services is maximised by directing resources at those prisoners wishing to avail of Work training and other regimes and through the implementation of a number of operational measures such as staggered feeding times for prisoners and rotational unlock of landings.
