Alan Kelly
Ceist:478. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the capacity of each motorcycle shed for roads policing motorcycles in each RPU base in tabular form. [58413/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 30 November 2021
Ceisteanna (478, 479)
Freagraí scríofa
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question Number 478 which was for answer on 30 November 2021, where you sought the capacity of each motorcycle shed for roads policing motorcycles in each RPU.
You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when the requested information was available.
As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of resources. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 50 Garda districts which have motorcycles assigned to them. I understand that it is not a requirement, on the allocation of a motorcycle to a Garda station, that a purpose built shed be available to house the vehicle.
The table below, provided by the Garda authorities, outlines the storage/parking facilities that are available in each of the 50 districts which have been assigned motorcycles:
|
Number of Districts with Storage Facilities (shed/garage) |
Number of Districts with outdoor parking bays |
Number of Districts with no dedicated storage/parking facility available |
|
39 |
6 |
5 |
I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to provide details on the capacity figures for each of the sheds.
Cormac Devlin
Ceist:479. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on prison inspection arrangements during Covid-19; the number of inspections carried out from January 2019 to October 2021 by the Inspector of Prisons; the top ten issues raised in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Inspector of Prisons, whose independence in the exercise of her functions is provided for by law, plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system.
‘A Framework for the Inspection of Prisons in Ireland’ was published by the Inspector in March last year. This sets out how the Inspector will conduct inspections of prisons and draws upon relevant international human rights standards, in particular the preventive approach and standards set by the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT).
Issues raised by the Inspector, and the corresponding responses from the Irish Prison Service are set out in the Inspector's reports upon publication.
During 2019 staff of the Inspector of Prisons attended prisons on 69 occasions. This was inclusive of a one-day oversight visit in each prison conducted by the Inspector in the performance of her statutory functions. Details of these visits are available in the 2019 Annual Report from the Inspector which is available on the website of my Department and the website of the Inspector of Prisons.
During 2020 the Inspector of Prisons visited every prison to assess the impact of the pandemic and details of these inspections are contained in the 2020 Inspector of Prisons Annual Report which is also available on my Department's website and on the website of the Inspector of Prisons.
In addition to these short visits to each prison, a three day oversight monitoring visit of Mountjoy women’s Prison (Dóchas Centre) was conducted. The Inspector, in collaboration with Maynooth University also, embarked on a project to learn about the experience of prisoners cocooning during Covid, the report entitled ‘Ameliorating and Impact of Cocooning of People in Custody – A Briefing’. A copy of the report can be found on the website of the Inspector.
This year, in response to the pandemic and in relation to the need to continue to monitor the situation within prisons for prisoners and staff, the Inspector suspended her 2021 general inspection programme and embarked on a COVID focused inspection schedule. This is designed to provide a human rights-based assessment of the response of the Prison Service to the pandemic.
On 3 August this year, Minister Naughton published the first four COVID - 19 Thematic Inspection reports received from the Inspector in relation to Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Wheatfield and Limerick Prisons and these are available on the website of my Department. I have also received Covid -19 Thematic Reports relating to Shelton Abbey, Portlaoise, Cork and Arbour Hill prisons and my intention is to bring all four reports to Government shortly and to publish them thereafter. Thematic Reports for Loughan House Open Centre and Midlands Prison were submitted to my Department on the 19 November 2021 and will also be published in due course.
Further, I am advised that the Inspectorate has also completed Covid Thematic inspections of Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Women’s Prison (Dóchas) Centre, the reports of which I am informed will be submitted to me during the month of December and published in early 2022.