Parliamentary Question: Remand Prisoners

3rd October 2001

114. Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the total number of persons on remand in prisons or places of detention awaiting trial; the average period for which such remand prisoners are held; the longest time a prisoner has been on remand; the steps which are being taken to ensure that people remanded in custody are brought to trial at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22024/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): On 1 October 2001 there were 555 prisoners remanded in custody pending further court appearances. I should point out that these figures do not include the significant number of sentenced prisoners who are also held in custody on foot of a court order pending their appearance in court at a future date.

I am not in a position at present to give the exact figures for the average period for which remand prisoners are held. However, in a recent survey carried out in Cloverhill Prison, the designated committal prison for all remand prisoners in the Dublin and Leinster area, the average period was 12 weeks. It should be noted that Cloverhill has a number of long-term remand prisoners which would distort this figure.

The longest time that a prisoner, currently within the prison system, has been on remand is from 4 August 1997. His next court appearance is on 29 May 2002. This would be an extremely unusual and exceptional case and I understand that the delays which have occurred arose due to applications for adjournments on behalf of the accused.
The listing of cases for trial is a matter for the courts and I have no function in this regard. However, I understand that the courts, as a general rule, give priority to cases where the accused is in custody.