Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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442. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of the progression unit in Mountjoy Prison, which was previously used only for model generic prisoners but which has now had sex offenders placed there; if this allocation of sex offenders to the unit will continue to take place; if so, why is the facility not being used for it's designed purposes; and what other building will act as a new progression unit to take its place. [17686/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the Irish Prison Service must make the best use of all available prison capacity, particularly at this time when severe overcrowding is being experienced.

Sex offenders, both sentenced and remand, were previously accommodated at 4 locations – Midlands Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Castlerea Prison and Mountjoy Training Unit. However, due to limitations at these locations and rising sex offender committals to prison, it was decided to consider other options within the prison estate to accommodate this cohort of prisoner.

The Progression Unit of Mountjoy Prison is self-sufficient in relation to recreation, education, work and training and there is no requirement for prisoners living in this Unit to interact or traverse to the main prison. For this reason, it was decided that the Progression Unit is a suitable location to accommodate sex offenders.

The process of accommodating sex offenders in the Progression Unit commenced during March 2024. On 17 April 2024, there were 33 sex offenders accommodated in the Progression Unit and it is expected that further movements of this cohort of offender to the Progression Unit will take place in the coming months.

Those who are currently accommodated in the Progression Unit, who are not serving their sentences for sex offences will be moved to alternative suitable accommodation within the prison estate.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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443. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners being put forward for early or temporary release in the past 12 months, but who were not released due to the fact early probation supervision is not available for them in the community. [17688/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The legislative basis for temporary release is set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended by the Criminal Justice (Temporary Release of Prisoners) Act 2003. All applications for temporary release are assessed on a case-by-case basis. It is important to note that the safety of the public is paramount when decisions on temporary release are being made.

Before a final determination is made a number of factors are taken into account including -

• the nature and gravity of the offence to which the sentence relates
• the sentence concerned and any recommendation made by the Court in relation to the sentence imposed
• the person's previous criminal record
• the potential threat to the safety and security of the public should the person be released
• the risk that the person might commit an offence during any period of temporary release
• the risk of the person failing to comply with any of the conditions of temporary release.