Prisoner Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2015

Thursday, 26 February 2015

Questions (115, 116, 117, 118, 119)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

115. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the numbers of prisoners aged 18 to 20, inclusive, in custody in each institution; and the number under protection. [8596/15]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

116. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the numbers of prisoners aged 21 to 24, inclusive, in custody in each institution; the number under protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8597/15]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

117. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total numbers of prisoners, in each institution, who are locked up in a normal day, for 23 hours or more; 22 to 23 hours; 20 to 22 hours; 18 to 20 hours; 16 to 18 hours; 14 to 16 hours; less than 14 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8598/15]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

118. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total numbers of prisoners, aged 18 to 20, inclusive, in each institution, who are locked up in a normal day, for 23 hours or more; 22 to 23 hours; 20 to 22 hours; 18 to 20 hours; 16 to 18 hours; 14 to 16 hours; less than 14 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8599/15]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

119. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total numbers of prisoners, aged 21 to 24, inclusive, in each institution, who are locked up in a normal day, for 23 hours or more; 22 to 23 hours; 20 to 22 hours; 18 to 20 hours; 16 to 18 hours; 14 to 16 hours; for less than 14 hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8600/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 119, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy may be aware the Irish Prison Service collates and publishes statistical data on a monthly and quarterly basis. This information is available on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie.

According to the snapshot of the prison population taken on 31 January, 2015 there were 3,706 prisoners in custody. Of this 201 were aged 18-20 and 533 were aged 21-24. A breakdown of their location is set out in table 1.

Information on prisoners on restricted regimes is included in the Irish Prison Service quarterly statistics report on the prison population. Restricted regime is define by the Irish Prison Service as those prisoners whose daily out of cell time is restricted to less than 5 hours i.e. they are locked up for more than 19 hours per day.

I can advise that on the 14th of January 2015 there were 3,661 prisoners in custody. Of this there were 300 prisoners had there regime/out of cell time restricted. A detailed breakdown by institution and restriction is set out in Table 2.

I can advise the Deputy that of the 300 on restricted regime 23 were aged 18- 20 and 64 were aged 21-24. A breakdown of these groups are set out in Table 3 and Table 4.

The restriction of a prisoner's regime can occur due to a number of factors including, the protection of vulnerable prisoners. This is provided for under Rule 63 of the Prison Rules 2007. A prisoner may, either at his/her own request or when the Governor considers it necessary, in so far as is practicable and subject to the maintenance and good order and safe and secure custody, be kept separate from other prisoners who are reasonably likely to cause significant harm to him/her.

In July 2013, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service established a high level group to look at measures which can be introduced to reduce the number of prisoners currently held on restricted regimes with a view to ensuring that all receive, as a minimum standard, out of cell time of 3 hours per day, to engage in exercise or activity.

Table 1. Prisoner Aged 18-20 and 21-24 by Location

Prison	18-20	21-24	Total
Arbour Hill Prison	0	8	8
Castlerea Prison	26	52	78
Cloverhill Remand Prison	32	46	78
Cork Prison	20	38	58
Limerick Prison (Female)	2	3	5
Limerick Prison (Male)	6	51	57
Loughan House Place Of Detn.	1	21	22
Midlands Prison	34	88	122
Mountjoy Prison (Female)	3	8	11
Mountjoy Prison (Male)	9	101	110
Portlaoise Prison	3	33	36
Shelton Abbey Place Of Detn.	0	9	9
Training Unit Place Of Detn.	2	8	10
Wheatfield Place of Detention	63	67	130
Total	201	533	734

Table 2. Prisoners on Restricted Regime

Prison	Total	No. On 23Hr	No. On 22hr	No. On 21hr	No. On 20hr	No. On 19hr
Arbour Hill	0	0	0	0	0	0
Castlerea	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cloverhill	11	11	0	0	0	0
Cork	21	1	7	0	0	13
Dochas	0	0	0	0	0	0
Limerick	61	0	0	61	0	0
Loughan House	0	0	0	0	0	0
Midlands	29	0	28	0	1	0
Mountjoy (M)	91	3	0	5	0	83
Portlaoise	22	0	0	5	0	17
Shelton Abbey	0	0	0	0	0	0
St Pats	0	0	0	0	0	0
Training Unit	0	0	0	0	0	0
Wheatfield	65	7	0	54	0	4
Totals	300	22	35	125	1	117

Table 3. Restricted Regime 18-20 Year Old Cohort

Prison	No. on 19 hrs	No. on 21 hrs	No. on 22 hrs	No. on 23 hrs	Total
Cloverhill	0	0	0	1	1
Limerick	0	2	0	0	2
Midlands	0	0	3	0	3
Mountjoy	0	1	0	0	1
Portlaoise	1	0	0	0	1
Wheatfield	0	14	0	1	15
Total	1	17	3	2	23

Table 4. Restricted Regime 21-24 Year Old Cohort

Prison	No. on 19 hrs	No. on 21 hrs	No. on 22 hrs	No. on 23 hrs	Total
Cloverhill	0	0	0	4	4
Cork	5	0	0	1	6
Limerick	0	13	0	0	13
Midlands	0	0	2	0	2
Mountjoy	22	2	0	0	24
Portlaoise	4	1	0	0	5
Wheatfield	0	8	0	2	10
Total	31	24	2	7	64