Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 February 2025
191. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice the number of incidents that have occurred in Irish prisons that have resulted in disciplinary action, per year since 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3797/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of incidents resulting in prisoner disciplinary sanctions for breach of prison discipline, by prison, for the period 2022 to end of January 2025 are outlined in Table 1 below.
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, sanction can comprise a reduction in remission.
I can further advise the Deputy that disciplinary matters involving prison staff are covered by the same regulations as civil servants generally, ie the Civil Service Disciplinary Code.
Matters that may lead to disciplinary action under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code can include, for example - poor timekeeping, unsatisfactory attendance record, or unauthorised absences at the lower end, to theft, fraud, misappropriation of funds, assault on another person in the course of employment at the higher end. The disciplinary actions that can be taken are dependent on the nature and seriousness of the misconduct with possible sanctions ranging from a verbal warning to dismissal. I am advised that the vast majority of disciplinary matters progressed by the Irish Prison Service under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code are attendance-related.
Table 2 below outlines the number of staff disciplinary sanctions for the period 2022 to end of January 2025.
Table 1 - Prisoner Disciplinary Sanctions for Breach of Prison Discipline
|
Prison |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
January 2025 |
|
Arbour Hill Prison |
11 |
30 |
22 |
0 |
|
Castlerea Prison |
208 |
447 |
616 |
44 |
|
Cloverhill Remand Prison |
2,791 |
2,880 |
2,893 |
322 |
|
Cork Prison |
549 |
547 |
729 |
58 |
|
Limerick Prison |
461 |
446 |
660 |
61 |
|
Loughan House Place Of Detn. |
70 |
78 |
77 |
3 |
|
Midlands Prison |
811 |
927 |
951 |
91 |
|
Mountjoy Prison ( Female) |
289 |
409 |
392 |
41 |
|
Mountjoy Prison ( Male ) |
1,253 |
1,447 |
2,123 |
208 |
|
Portlaoise Prison |
222 |
420 |
338 |
34 |
|
Shelton Abbey Place Of Detn. |
70 |
66 |
62 |
2 |
|
Training Unit Place Of Detn. |
1 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
|
Wheatfield Place of Detention |
1,983 |
2,052 |
2,091 |
155 |
|
Overall |
8,926 |
9,751 |
10,960 |
1,019 |
Table 2 - IPS Staff - Disciplinary Action under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code
|
Year |
Total |
|
2022 |
109 |
|
2023 |
252 |
|
2024 |
184 |
|
2025 to 31 January 2025 |
16 |
