Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
571. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 605 and 606 of 17 May 2022, the number of prisoners who had an error identified in the calculation of their sentence by prison, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27337/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra572. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 605 and 606 of 17 May 2022, the number of prisoners who had their sentence decreased following the 2021 audit of sentence calculations by prison, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27338/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra573. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 605 and 606 of 17 May 2022, the total number of cases in which prisoners continued to remain in detention following the expiration of their correct sentence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27339/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra574. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 605 and 606 of 17 May 2022, the number of legal challenges that were taken by prisoners due to errors in sentence calculation; the number of completed legal challenges; the number of ongoing legal challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27340/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra575. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 605 and 606 of 17 May 2022, the timeline for the proposed external review of the policies, processes and procedures for sentence calculation; if a shortlist of external candidates has been identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27341/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 571 to 575, inclusive, together.
Following identification of an error in December 2020, the Irish Prison Service carried out a review of sentence calculation and procedures to provide assurance on the accuracy of sentence calculation in respect of those in custody.
The outcome of this examination of almost 4,000 sentences was that a small percentage of release dates were put back, or brought forward, as the case might be.
A number of measures were identified to prevent such errors reoccurring and these are being actioned. In tandem with the review, a new overarching sentence calculation policy was also developed and implemented across the service.
To complement these steps, arrangements are also being put in place for an external review of this process. The further information requested is being compiled and I will write further to the Deputy when it is available to me.
