Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
458. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of disciplinary procedures initiated against prisoners, also known as P19s in 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5159/26]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that the number of disciplinary procedures, also known as P19s, that were initiated against prisoners was 10,966 in 2024 and 13,515 in 2025.
A disciplinary system is in place, under the Prisons Act 2007, which empowers Governors to deal with prisoners who have breached the Prison Rules and allows for the imposition of sanctions where a breach of the Rules has been proven to take place. Such sanctions are normally in the form of loss of certain privileges, such as reduced phone calls, reduced visits, prohibition on the use of the gym, prohibition on use of the tuck shop etc, for defined periods of time. At the higher end of the scale, sanctions can include a reduction in remission. Prisoners can receive more than one sanction for a disciplinary report.
