1039. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he has plans to introduce constitutional or legislative reforms that would more explicitly define the role, function, or limitations of the prison system in line with human rights obligations. [30219/25]
Parliamentary questions
Questions
TDs ask ministers questions to get answers on the record, most of them in writing. Here is every one asked in the 34th Dáil, by the department it went to and the subject heading it was filed under. How questions work
Browse the questions
Showing questions asked by Gary Gannon under the heading Prison Service.
44 questions match, newest first.
119. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice in light of the worsening crisis of prison overcrowding, where over 350 people are reportedly sleeping on floors and prison numbers are at a record high, the steps he is taking to implement meaningful decarceration policies, including non-custodial sentencing and investment in community supports. [24597/25]
107. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the projected recruitment pipeline for prison officers in 2025 to 2027; the projected attrition rate; and the expected net staffing change. [21490/25]
108. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the estimated annual cost of detaining one person in prison versus the cost of supervising one person on a community sanction, and the projected fiscal impact of achieving the Department of Justice's 1,500 additional prison place target versus equivalent investment in community measures. [21491/25]
123. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average daily prison population and the official bed capacity of each custodial institution for the months January to March 2025; the percentage occupancy for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21475/25]
124. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice whether he accepts that the State is in breach of its obligations under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights owing to current overcrowding levels, and what immediate actions he will take. [21476/25]
125. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners sleeping on mattresses on floors on each day since 1 January 2024, broken down by prison. [21477/25]
126. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice how overcrowding has affected rates of prisoner on prisoner and prisoner on staff assaults in 2023 and Q1 2025; and whether an independent safety audit will be commissioned. [21478/25]
127. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners unable to access education, vocational workshops or drug treatment programmes due to capacity constraints in 2024; and the percentage shortfall relative to assessed need. [21479/25]
128. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice his response to the Prison Officers' Association statement that overcrowding has passed the point at which prisons can be safely operated; and what additional staffing or overtime resources will be provided in budget 2026. [21480/25]
129. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the number of confirmed drone related contraband drops detected in each prison in 2023 and to date in 2025; and the measures being taken to counter drone incursions. [21481/25]
130. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice if he will consider installing comprehensive drone defence systems and netting in exercise yards, as recommended by staff representatives; and the estimated cost. [21482/25]
131. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the current utilisation rate of structured temporary release, broken down by offence category, compared with 2020 to 2024; and the reoffending rate for persons released under this scheme. [21483/25]
133. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the average daily number of people on community based restorative justice programmes in 2024; the target numbers for 2025; and the budget allocated. [21485/25]
134. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the breakdown of the €53 million capital allocation for 2025 by project and prison; the projected number of additional bed spaces each project will deliver; and on what timeline. [21486/25]
135. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice when he last consulted the Inspector of Prisons and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission regarding compliance with the UN Mandela Rules; and if he will publish any correspondence since January 2024 relating to overcrowding. [21487/25]
136. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the steps being taken to address the 48% overcrowding in Limerick Women's Prison; and whether any female prisoners have been transferred abroad or to Garda stations due to lack of capacity. [21488/25]
137. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice whether his Department has benchmarked Irish prison population rates against comparable EU jurisdictions; to provide that data; and to outline any best practice models being considered to curb unsentenced and short sentence committals. [21489/25]
1220. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice the current operational capacity of each prison in Ireland, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12849/25]