Patricia Ryan
Ceist:158. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice her plans to establish a female open prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26580/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 May 2022
Ceisteanna (158)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to assure the Deputy that I am very cognisant that female offenders represent a particularly vulnerable group within the prison system. It is the case that provision of an Open Centre for women was considered in the context of the Probation Service/Irish Prison Service joint Women Strategy 2014-2016, which sought to improve the outcomes for women offenders.
A joint working group between the two agencies recommended that the most practical and cost effective way to address the needs identified was to develop a step-down facility for women. In this regard, the Probation and Prison Service worked collaboratively towards the identification of a suitable venue for a women’s step down unit in Dublin, via a procurement process run by the Office of Government Procurement.
The Outlook Programme, which opened on 10 May 2019, now provides this step-down facility. The vision of the Programme is to promote the rehabilitation and re-integration of women leaving prison and those who have accommodation needs requiring support in the community. This is achieved through the provision of a wrap- around service that supports independent living skills, training and employment opportunities and pro-social behaviour in order to reduce risk of re-offending
The Programme which is run in joint partnership between the Prison and the Probation Service, and managed by Focus Ireland, supports women serving sentences of imprisonment who pose a low risk to society to gradually re-integrate into the community.
In addition, as the Deputy will be aware, the Prison Service is currently in the process of a major redevelopment of Limerick Prison which includes the construction of a new prison facility for women prisoners.
The new accommodation block for women offenders in Limerick will replace the use of the female wing at that prison. The design of the new facility is based on the principle of rehabilitation and normalisation reflecting contemporary design standards. A mix of accommodation units are being provided based around an external courtyard setting. The development will provide accommodation for 50 women prisoners and is scheduled for completion in late 2022. When open, this new facility will represent a complete change in the standard of accommodation and rehabilitative supports for women prisoners at that facility.