15th October 2003
104. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the most recent figures of persons incarcerated in the State; the comparison to the previous year's figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23442/03]
15th October 2003
90. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reports made by the probation and welfare service and the Irish Prison Service in relation to the actions required under the homeless preventative strategy, in particular to the operations of the specialist unit, to assist offenders who are homeless on release from custody; the numbers of transitional housing units built, the numbers of additional probation and welfare staff appointed, and the programme put in place with the VECs to ensure the continuance by prisoners of education programmes on release; the monitoring systems put in place by his Department to ensure that the measures in this strategy are implemented and contribute to preventing crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23356/03]\ \ 106. Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reports made by the probation and welfare service and the Irish Prison Service in relation to the actions required under the homeless preventative strategy, in particular in relation to the operations of the specialist unit to assist offenders who are homeless on release from custody, to the numbers of transitional housing units built, the numbers of additional probation and welfare staff appointed, and the programme put in place with the VECs to ensure the continuance by prisoners of education programmes on release; the monitoring systems put in place by his Department to ensure that the measures in this strategy are implemented and contribute to preventing the re-incidence of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23205/03]\ \ 191. Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reports made by the probation and welfare service and the Irish Prison Service in relation to the actions required under the homeless preventative strategy, in particular in relation to the operations of the specialist unit to assist offenders who are homeless on release from custody; the numbers of transitional housing units built; the number of additional probation and welfare staff appointed; the programme put in place with the VECs to ensure the continuance by prisoners of education programmes on release; the monitoring systems put in place by his Department to ensure that the measures in this strategy are implemented and contribute to preventing crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23491/03]
15th October 2003
115. Ms Burton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding his proposals for the ending of overtime by prison officers; if it is intended to reopen negotiations with the IPOA, following the recent breakdown in talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23362/03]
15th October 2003
99. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if suitable mental health facilities will be available to cater for those referred to designated centres under the provisions of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Bill 2002 when enacted, without further worsening provision for the existing prison population or the overburdened civil mental health services. [23438/03]
15th October 2003
124. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps being taken to reduce the cost of keeping prisoners in custody; the reason it costs more than €200,000 per year to keep a prisoner in Portlaoise Prison, but less than half that amount in Mountjoy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23366/03]
15th October 2003
101. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the agreement which has been reached between the Department of Health and Children and his Department regarding who is responsible for the provision of mental health services for prisoners and the way in which they should be provided since the 2001 report of the group to review the structure and organisation of prison health care services was published. [23437/03]
15th October 2003
60. Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Government's plans for privatising aspects of the criminal justice system, including prisons; and the reasons for same. [23467/03]\ 62. Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans in development by the Government for the privatisation of prisons outside of the current package of measures under negotiation with the Prison Officers' Association. [23468/03]
15th October 2003
109. Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the promised prison observation cells to replace padded cells fully comply with international human rights standards for prisoners with, or at risk, of mental health problems; and the way in which this will be verified by an independent authority. [23441/03]
15th October 2003
61. Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he plans to take to redress the high level of sick leave as identified by the Comptroller and Auditor General among prison officers. [23503/03]
15th October 2003
127. Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the service level agreement referred to in the Government's response to the CPT, and originally promised by the end of 2002 will be ready. [23433/03]
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.