Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1046.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of prisoners in the State who reported being assaulted while in prison in each of the past ten years; and if a breakdown can be provided on the nature of the assaults, in tabular form.[33797/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1047.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who died while in prison in each of the past ten years; and if a breakdown can be provided on the causes of death, in tabular form.[33798/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All deaths in custody are notified to An Garda Síochána, who investigate where circumstances warrant, in addition to the inquest held in the Coroner's Court. The cause of death is determined by a jury on the basis of the information presented to the Coroner's Court.

All deaths in custody, and deaths that occur within one month of temporary release, are also subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of people who died while in Prison in each of the last ten years and to date in 2024, and the breakdown of the cause of death, is provided in tables below.

Table 1: Total deaths in custody from 2013 to 30 August 2024 inclusive that took place while the person was in Prison

Table 2: Deaths in Custody 2013 to 30 August 2024 inclusive classified by cause of death as determined by Coroner

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1048.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of social workers working in the Irish Prison Service.[33799/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service do not employ social workers directly.

The services of many support workers are provided by a variety of external agencies and are not directly employed by the Irish Prison Service.

Probation Officers, many of whom are social work qualified, are assigned to work in prison settings nationally and work with individuals in custody as valued members of multi-disciplinary teams. This can mean working closely with prison staff, psychologists, addiction specialists and community based organisations.

As of 31 August 2024, there are 34.9 (FTE) Probation Officers engaged in this work, alongside 1 Probation Assistant, 2 Assistant Principal Probation Officers and 7 Senior Probation Officers.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1049.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of chaplains working in the Irish Prison Service.[33800/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The role of the Prison Chaplain is to provide pastoral care and spiritual support to the entire prison community which includes prisoners, staff, families and community groups as set out in the Prison Rules.

Working within the framework of prison multi-disciplinary teams, Prison Chaplains encourage and support all people in custody to adapt to prison life, prepare for life after release and support their transition from prison back to the community.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the number of Prison Chaplains working in the Irish Prison Service as at 31 August 2024 is 20.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1050.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of counsellors or psychologists currently working in the Irish Prison Service.[33801/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service is to develop, deliver and manage an integrated mental health and criminogenic needs assessment and treatment service for people in custody, in line with service plans and objectives, and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy.

Psychologists are employed directly by the Irish Prison Service. The Irish Prison Psychology Service has the following authorised posts: a Head of Service, a Principal Psychologist Manager, a Principal Specialist Psychologist, 14 Senior Psychologists, 23.4 Staff Grade Psychologists and 14 Assistant Psychologists. The latter is a fixed term contract unqualified grade which is not included when establishing the psychologist to prisoner ratios.

The number of psychologists currently employed by the Irish Prison Service is as follows: a Principal Psychologist Manager, 13 Senior Psychologists, 15 Staff Grade Psychologists (4 are currently in training via UCC) and 10 Assistant Psychologists. There are currently 3.4 locum Psychologists and one locum Senior Psychologist employed by the Irish Prison Service.

The Psychology Service has engaged in a concerted effort to improve the recruitment and retention of Psychologists. A recruitment campaign for Psychologists recently concluded, resulting in the formation of a panel and it is anticipated that the eight current psychologist vacancies will be filled from this panel.

Separately, counsellors, specifically addiction counsellors, are employed directly by Merchants Quay Ireland to provide a prison-based addiction counselling service across the entire Irish Prison Service estate. There are 17.6 Addiction Counsellors currently working across the Irish Prison Service Estate. Merchants Quay Ireland have advised that they have recently recruited 2.4 additional counsellors who are expected to begin working in prisons during September 2024. This will ensure that the sanctioned compliment of 20 Addiction Counsellors is in place.