Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2007

Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2007

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IRISH PRISON SERVICE
Irish Prison Service HQ, IDA Business Park, Ballinalee Road, Longford, County Longford.
T: (043) 333 5100 F: (043) 333 5371 E: info@irishprisons.ie W: www.irishprisons.ie

IRISH PRISON SERVICE
Annual Report 2007

Photographs courtesy of Andy Mason Photography, Gráinne Duggan Photography and William Farrell Photography.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE ANNUAL REPORT 2007
Mission Statement
The mission of the Irish Prison Service is to provide safe, secure and humane custody
for people who are sent to prison. The Service is committed to managing custodial
sentences in a way which encourages and supports prisoners in their endeavouring to
live law abiding and purposeful lives as valued members of society.

Contents
Chairman’s and Director General’s Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02
Board Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 06
Custody of Prisoners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08
Care and Rehabilitation of Prisoners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Managing the Prison Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
The Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

CHAIRMAN’S AND DIRECTOR GENERAL’S REPORTS
The year 2007 saw significant developments in the Irish Prison Service (IPS), from the successful decentralisation of its
corporate headquarters to Longford, to major investment in the prison estate, to a major recruitment campaign of recruit
prison officers, increased security measures and the continued successful implementation of organisational change. The
Prisons Authority Interim Board (‘the Board’), together with the Director General, continues to play its part in helping to
provide leadership, and to support and encourage change in the prison system.

Government approval for the assignment of approximately 160 acres from
lands owned by the Department of Defence was obtained during the year.
A preliminary site suitable report was completed during the year and the
Board approved a preliminary business case in respect of the project.

Brian McCarthy
Chairman

Major construction projects were underway or completed in Portlaoise
Prison, Shelton Abbey, Loughan House, Castlerea Prison, Limerick Prison,
Wheatfield Prison, all with a view to providing additional or enhanced
accommodation for prisoners and staff. An extensive programme of
maintenance works was also carried out in each of our institutions to
protect the fabric of the prison estate and to ensure the welfare & safety
of prisoners and staff.

Interim Board Meetings
There were five meetings of the Board during 2007. The meetings
concentrated on the critical change programmes under way or planned in
the IPS. The Board allocated significant time to advancing implementation
of the measures agreed in the Proposal for Organisational Change (POC),
the Prisons Capital Programme - especially the replacement of the prisons
on the Mountjoy Campus and Cork Prison - and the implementation
of sound financial management in controlling prison costs. The Board
remains convinced that the Irish Prison Service must succeed in these key
areas if it is to establish the platform for development of custody and care
to the standards expected of a truly modern and efficient prison service.

Policy Developments
The Board was pleased to note that a programme of works to facilitate
the introduction of high security search areas at the entrances to all
closed institutions commenced during 2007. The measures include X-ray
machines, walk-through metal detectors and provision of facilities for
use of drug detection dogs at the prison entry points. Installation of a
technology based pilot scheme to inhibit the use of mobile phones in
prisons got underway in Midlands Prison in 2007. Initial evaluations of
the system were positive and it was decided to extend the scope of the
pilot scheme to cover most of the prison complex. Works on extending the
scheme were still in progress at the end of 2007.

Capital Projects
The Board was pleased to see further progress of the Government’s
extensive prisons’ capital programme – the intention being to replace
40 percent of the prison estate over the coming years.

These measures are essential to stem the flow of contraband into prisons and
to combat the growth of organised criminal activities within and from prisons
and to maintain a safe and secure regime for prisoners and staff alike.

The largest of these projects is the development of a new prison complex
on a green-field site to replace the facilities on the Mountjoy campus
on a value for money public private partnership basis. The new prison
complex located at Thornton Hall, North County Dublin will provide
accommodation for 1,400 prisoners in a range of security settings
together with the provision of rehabilitation facilities to help prepare
prisoners for reintegration back into society.
Other capital projects that were under way or completed during 2007
included the Kilworth Project. This project involves the replacement
of Cork Prison with a modern prison complex on a green field site at
Kilworth, County Cork.

In this regard, the Board also welcomes the Government’s decision to
approve staff resources to support the security measures. The initiative
involved the establishment of a national Operational Support Group and
dedicated units within the prisons to facilitate security screening and
intelligence gathering.
A major recruitment campaign for recruit prison officers (RPOs), a
position introduced in the context of the roll out of the agreed POC in July
2005, took place in March 2007. Two hundred and sixty five staff were
appointed in 2007 and employed on the conditions of service agreed for
the new RPO.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Organisational Change
The Board welcomed the continued successful operation of the agreed
change process contained in the POC agreed with the IPS and the Prison
Officers Association (POA). Under the new arrangements, staff are
contracted to work an annual rather than a weekly number of hours,
thus enabling management to structure attendance to better meet work
demands in areas which are unpredictable.

Statutory Board
Board members continue to be disappointed at the delay in establishing
the Board as a statutory body.
Brian McCarthy
Chairman
Prison Authority Interim Board

The Board welcomes a 17 percent reduction in prison staff sick leave
relative to 2006 levels. Sick leave levels were and are a particular concern
of the Board. It is very difficult to implement a regime for the benefit of
prisoners if staffing levels are compromised through short-term sick leave
absences. The Board will continue to monitor developments under the
POC where sick leave levels are concerned.
Financial Management
Sound financial management is essential if overall prison costs are to be
controlled in the interest of diverting a greater proportion of the prison
budget towards improving prisoner services and facilities. The Interim
Board continued to closely monitor Prison Service expenditure in 2007
and was pleased that significant progress was again made in capping
prison costs - most notably in relation to overtime.
Mentally-ill Prisoners
As in previous Annual Reports the Board outlined its concern at the delays
experienced in accessing care for prisoners at the Central Mental Hospital.
The Board remains concerned that admissions are still not up to the
required level. The Interim Board will continue to devote attention to this
matter as it considers that further improvements should be possible at
the existing facility in Dundrum ahead of the proposed development of a
new facility at the Thornton Hall site.
Remuneration Sub-committee
The Remuneration Sub-Committee of the Board again reviewed the
performance of the Director General against set targets in accordance
with the terms of the Scheme of Performance Awards for Chief Executives
of Non-commercial State Sponsored Bodies. The Sub-Committee’
recommendation for the year 2007 took account of the strong personal
contribution made by the Director General in advancing change in 2007.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Director General’s Report
To:
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Dermot Ahern, T.D.

serving sentences of 10 years and over have more than doubled (mainly
for sexual and drug offences).
The daily average number of prisoners in custody in 2007 was 3,321 - an
increase of 130 on the 2006 figure of 3,191. The average number of female
offenders in custody was 111, a small increase on the 2006 level. Most
prisons operated at or near full capacity in 2007.

Brian Purcell
Director General
To:
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr Dermot Ahern TD
Minister,
I am pleased to transmit to you the Annual Report of the Irish Prison
Service for 2007.
While the control of prisons, the management of prisoner numbers and
the provision of appropriate accommodation and services to prisoners
remained our priority activities during 2007, the two key areas for
particular focus during the year were the security of our prisons and the
prison building programme. The focus on security is essential to stem
the flow of contraband into prisons, to combat the growth of organised
criminal activities within and from prisons and to maintain a safe and
secure regime for prisoners and staff alike.
Prisoner Numbers
During 2007 there were a total of 11,934 committals to prison, compared
with 12,157 in 2006. A total of 9,711 persons accounted for these
committals. Of those, 6,447 were Irish Nationals, which is a decrease of
352 on the 2006 figures. Almost one third of persons committed in 2007
were non-Irish Nationals.
In total there were 6,455 committals under sentence during the year,
which was an increase on the 2006 figure of 5,802. Of note is the fact that
while the number of persons committed serving sentences of less than 2
years has remained largely unchanged, the numbers committed serving
longer sentences has increased significantly and the numbers committed

Enhanced Security Measures
In June, the Government approved the necessary resources for us to
introduce a package of new security measures. These measures will
target the routes whereby contraband such as drugs, weapons and mobile
phones are trafficked into our prisons. Since then the Irish Prison Service
has been putting in place the necessary physical infrastructure for these
measures and recruiting the extra staff.
The additional resources allow for; the establishment of a Drug Detection
Dog Unit; the introduction of security screening for all personnel entering
our closed prisons, including walk-through metal detectors and x-ray
scanners; the establishment of Operational Support Units in each closed
prison; and, the opening of new remand segregation units for serious
drug and criminal gang members.
In April, we embarked on the development of ground-breaking technology in
the Midlands/Portlaoise Prison Complex to prevent the use of mobile phones
in prisons. Evaluation of the project so far has yielded positive results and, if
confirmed, the inhibitors will be installed in all our closed prisons.
Prison Building Programme
Significant progress was made during 2007 on the implementation
of the prison building programme which will when complete replace
approximately 40% of the prison estate that is in poor condition in
accordance with commitments in the Programme for Government.
The most ambitious project in this programme is, of course, the
replacement of the four prisons on the Mountjoy Campus with a new prison
at Thornton Hall in North County Dublin. Work also continued during the
year on major projects at Limerick, Portlaoise, Wheatfield and Castlerea
Prisons and at Shelton Abbey and Loughan House. A significant acquisition
during the year was the 160 acre site at Kilworth. The intention is to build a
facility to replace the existing prison in Cork. In this context, we are grateful
for the cooperation of the Department of Defence and the Army.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Decentralisation
The Irish Prison Service Headquarters decentralised from Clondalkin to
Longford in July 2007. I was very pleased, and somewhat relieved, at how
successfully this transition was effected. I would like to thank the Office
of Public Works for providing us with our excellent new offices and I would
like to thank Longford County Council for facilitating the smooth progress
of this project.
We were one of the first Government offices to move locations under the
decentralisation programme and this involved the relocation of the entire
Headquarters staff complement. Despite staff turnover of over 80% as a
result of the move to Longford, business and services to stakeholders was
largely unaffected. This was a significant achievement and one that reflects
great credit on the management and staff, old and new, who worked
together over the last number of years to make the transition a success.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank staff who transferred out
of Headquarters in advance of the move to Longford for their individual
and collective input to making the IPS what it is today. To those who have
joined the Headquarters team, I welcome you all to the organisation and
I am pleased that the Irish Prison Service has succeeded in attracting
capable and qualified people to Longford.
Conclusion
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform, Mr Dermot Ahern and his predecessors Mr
Brian Lenihan TD and Mr Michael McDowell for their support during the
year. I would also like to thank the Secretary General of the Department
of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and all his staff, in particular in the
Prisons and Probation Policy Division, for their assistance and support.
Finally, I would like to thank the Chairman and members of the Prison
Authority Interim Board and the management and staff of the Irish Prison
Service for their continued dedication and professionalism.
Brian Purcell
Director General

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

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IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

01 CUSTODY OF PRISONERS
There were 11,934 committals to prison in 2007 comprising 5,715 committals under
sentence, 4,967 committals on remand, 1,249 committals under immigration law and
3 indefinite contempt of court. The 11,934 committals were in relation to 9,711 persons.

Number of committals to prison in 2007
A total of 11,934 committals to prison took place in 2007, compared with
12,157 in 2006. A person could be included more than once if committed
more than once in the year. This represents a decrease of 1.8 percent over
the 2006 figure.

Number of persons committed to prison in 2007
A total of 9,711 persons accounted for the 11,934 committals. This figure
relates to persons newly committed to prison (i.e. not already on remand
or serving another sentence). This represents a similar number to the
2006 total of 9,700. The average of committals per person was 1.23 in
2007 compared with 1.25 in 2006.

Figure 1: Chart – Committals to Prison 2001 to 2007
Table 1: Persons committed to prison 2001 to 2007
12,500
12,000
11,500
11,000
10,500

Year

2001

2002

Number
Change
% change

9,539 9,716
-
177
-
1.9

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

9,814 8,820 8,686 9,700
98
-994 -134 1,014
1.0
-10.1
-1.5
11.7

9,711
11
0.1

10,000
9,500

2000

2001

2002

2003 2004
Year

2005

2006

2007

The breakdown by gender of persons committed was 88.1 percent male and
11.9 percent female compared with 2006 figures which were 90.1 percent male
and 9.9 percent female.
Table 2: Age and gender of persons committed to prison in 2007

Figure 2: Committals per month 2007

Committals

Age (years)
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

January

April

July

October

The total of 11,934 comprised:
ñ 5,715 committals under sentence,
ñ 4,967 committals on remand,
ñ 1,249 committals under immigration law and
ñ 3 indefinite contempt of court.
Committals were highest in July and October and lowest in August and
averaged nine hundred and ninety-five per month. For further details, see
Tables 20 to 23 below.

15
16
17
18 - ‹21
21 - ‹25
25 - ‹30
30 - ‹40
40 - ‹50
50+
Total
%

Female Male
0
0
5
142
216
265
355
133
39
1,155
11.9

1*
100
141
1,164
1,831
1,835
2,171
949
364
8,556
88.1

Total

1
0.0
100
1.0
146
1.5
1,306 13.4
2,047 21.1
2,100 21.6
2,526 26.0
1,082 11.1
403
4.1
9,711 100.0
100.0

* Committed for 1 night on the consent of the Judge and of his Defence
Counsel as no place was available at Trinity House School, Oberstown.
County and Country of Origin
A third (33.3%) of all persons committed declared Dublin as their county
of residence. Cork with 9.5%, Limerick with 5.5% and Galway with 3.7%
were the next largest counties of residence indicated.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Table 3: : Home address, by county given by persons committed in 2007
by gender
County
Antrim
Armagh
Carlow
Cavan
Clare
Cork
Derry
Donegal
Down
Dublin
Fermanagh
Galway
Kerry
Kildare
Kilkenny
Laois
Leitrim
Limerick
Longford
Louth
Mayo
Meath
Monaghan
Offaly
Roscommon
Sligo
Tipperary
Tyrone
Waterford
Westmeath
Wexford
Wicklow
Not Stated
Outside Country
Total

Female Male
2
0
15
3
10
78
0
6
1
331
0
15
17
16
14
8
3
53
3
11
8
14
3
4
3
3
18
0
15
15
9
13
159
305
1,155

Total

31
33
16
16
74
89
107
110
156
166
848
926
19
19
138
144
15
16
2,900 3,231
5
5
344
359
127
144
175
191
97
111
113
121
32
35
484
537
76
79
198
209
145
153
150
164
93
96
110
114
61
64
58
61
221
239
11
11
208
223
156
171
114
123
129
142
831
990
314
619
8,556 9,711

Of those committed 6,447 were Irish nationals (66.4%) of the total (9,711)
which is a decrease of 352 on the corresponding 2006 figure of 6,799.
Almost one third of persons committed in 2007 were non–Irish nationals.

%
0.3
0.2
0.9
1.1
1.7
9.5
0.2
1.5
0.2
33.3
0.1
3.7
1.5
2.0
1.1
1.2
0.4
5.5
0.8
2.2
1.6
1.7
1.0
1.2
0.7
0.6
2.5
0.1
2.3
1.8
1.3
1.5
10.2
6.4
100.0

Other EU nationals (excluding Irish) accounted for 1,354 (13.9%) of persons
committed. Other European nationals accounted for 311 (3.2%), African
nationals for 612 (6.3%), Asian nationals for 611 (6.3%) and Central/South
American nationals accounted for 303 (3.1%). See Table 4 for further details.
Table 4: Comparison of Nationality as Given by Persons Committed in
2007 and 2006
Nationality

2006 2007 Change

n
%
n
%
n
%

Irish
6,799
U.K.
226
Other EU*
785
Other European
618
African
550
Asian
483
Austral/Asian
6
Central/South American 183
North American
19
Not Recorded
31
Total

Total EU
(including Ireland)
Other EU
(including UK)

70.1
2.3
8.1
6.4
5.7
5.0
0.1
1.9
0.2
0.3

6,447
228
1,126
311
612
611
4
303
18
51

66.4
2.3
11.6
3.2
6.3
6.3
0.0
3.1
0.2
0.5

-352
2
341
-307
62
128
-2
120
-1
20

-5.2
0.9
43.4
-49.7
11.3
26.5
-33.3
65.6
-5.3
64.5

9,700 100.0

9,711

100.0

0.1

7,810

80.5

7,803

80.3

-8

-0.1

1,011

10.4

1,354

13.9

343

33.9

*Figures for Other EU increased due to the accession of Bulgaria and
Romania to the EU on 1 January, 2007; Other European figure has
decreased accordingly.
Committals under sentence
There were 5,715 committals directly under sentence in 2007. When an
additional 740 prisoners, who were already in custody at the start of the
year on remand/awaiting trial and who were subsequently recommitted
on conviction are included, the total number of prisoners received on
conviction in 2007 is 6,455. Males accounted for 5,979 (92.6%) and
females accounted for 476 (7.4%) of these.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Table 5: Committals under sentence by age group
Age

No.

Figure 3: Age profile of persons committed in 2007

1,800
1,600

16
17
18 - ‹21
21 - ‹25
25 - ‹30
30 - ‹40
40 - ‹50
50+

39
84
930
1,480
1,342
1,582
683
315

0.6
1.3
14.4
22.9
20.8
24.5
10.6
4.9

Total

6,455

100

1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

Sentence length
There was an 11.3 percent increase in the numbers committed to prison under
sentence in 2007 (6,455) over 2006 (5,802). Committals under sentence of
less than 3 months increased by 40 over the 2006 figure of 2,253 to 2,293
(1.8%). However, this category of sentence reduced as a proportion of the
total numbers committed under sentence representing 35.5% of the total
committed under sentence from 39% in both 2005 and 2006. The number of
prisoners serving sentences of 3 to less than 6 months to 1 to less than 2 years,
while increasing in numbers, remained largely unchanged proportionally from
2006. It is in the sentence lengths ranging from 2 to less than 3 years up to life
imprisonment that the largest proportional increases over 2006 are evident, for
example the number of prisoners serving 2 to less than 3 years increased by
52 (18.5%) to 333; the 3 to less than 5 years cohort increased by 110 (44.0%)
to 360; the 5 to less than 10 years by 63 (37.5%) to 231; and the 10 years or
more cohort had the greatest increases from 20 offenders in 2006 to 47 in 2007
(135.0%) mainly for sexual offences, up from 3 offenders in 2006 to 17 in 2007
and drugs offences, where the number increased from 3 offenders in 2006 to
22 in 2007 . The number off prisoners serving life increased by 27.8 percent
from 18 in 2006 to 23 in 2007. Tables 5 - 9 show further details for 2007.
As in previous years, persons aged between 21 and 40 years accounted for the
majority of committals under sentence. In 2007 they accounted for 68.2 percent
of the total (4,404) as compared with 65.9 percent in 2006.
The number of persons committed under sentence aged under 21 was 1,053,
(16.3%) an increase of 38 on the 2006 total. The number of persons committed
under sentence aged under 18 was 123 (1.9%). The youngest was aged 16.
The number of persons aged 40 or over was 998, a 3.9 percent increase on the
2006 total of 961. This age grouping accounted for 15.5 percent of the total,
down from 16.6 percent in 2006 and 17.5 percent in 2005. See Tables 5 - 9 for
further details.

18-≤21 21-≤25 25-≤30 30-≤40 40-≤50

50+

Committals by offence group
The Irish Prison Service uses four main offence groupings to present
information on offence type.
Group 1 (Offences against the person)
There were 882 committals under sentence in 2007 in respect of offences
against the person (Group 1), which accounts for 13.7 percent of the 2007
total. The comparable figures for 2006 were 780, which accounted for 13.4
percent of the total committals under sentence in that year.
Group 2 (Offences against property without violence) and Group 3
(Offences against property with violence)
The total number of sentenced committals for offences against property
was 1,785 as compared with 1,625 in 2006. Of this total, forty-one
committals are classified as offences against property with violence.
The comparable figure in 2006 was sixty-three.
Group 4 (Other offences)
The largest grouping consists mainly of drug offences, road traffic
offences and miscellaneous other offences, the largest of which relate to
public disorder. All three sub-categories showed increases over 2006.
ñ

ñ
ñ
ñ

Sentenced committals for drug offences were up significantly from
395 or 6.8 percent of the 2006 total to 530 or 8.2 percent of the 2007
total, an increase of 34 percent in this category.
Sentenced committals for road traffic offences increased from
1,452 in 2006 (25.0 percent of the 2006 total) to 1,564 (24.2
percent of the 2007 total) in 2007. This represents an increase of
8 percent in this category.
Sentenced committals for miscellaneous other offences increased
from 1,550 in 2006 (26.7 percent) to 1,694 (26.2 percent) in 2007, an
increase of 9.3 percent in this category.
Sentences for road traffic offences and miscellaneous other offences
were of relatively short duration compared with other categories.
Almost half (48.7 percent) of road traffic sentences were for less than
three months, and 78.6 percent for less than six months.
Almost 62 percent of sentences for other offences were for less than
three months with 80 percent for less than six months.

A more detailed breakdown of offences is contained in the following Table 6.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Table 6: Committals under sentence in 2007 breakdown by Offence Description

Female Male
2007

Total
%

2006
Total
%

Total Group 1:

Offences Against the Person
45

Murder
0

Manslaughter
1

Sexual Offences
0

Other Offences Against The Person
44

Assault
23

Assault Causing Harm
12

Assault on Garda
4

Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (OABH)
0

Other Offences
5

837

882

13.7

780

13.4

19
18
116
684
338
194
23
20
109

19
19
116
728
361
206
27
20
114

0.3
0.3
1.8
11.3
5.6
3.2
0.4
0.3
1.8

17
18
90
655
343
155
32
26
99

0.3
0.3
1.6
11.3
5.9
2.7
0.6
0.4
1.7

Total Group 2:
Offences Against Property With Violence

0.6

1.1

Total Group 3:
Offences Against Property Without Violence

Theft

Criminal Damage

Burglary - Full

Robbery

Handling Stolen Property

Entering Building with intent to Commit Offence

Other Offences in this Category

154
113
7
1
7
13
2
11

1,590
574
323
189
159
76
68
201

1,744
687
330
190
166
89
70
212

27.0
10.6
5.1
2.9
2.6
1.4
1.1
3.3

1,562
602
308
115
99
92
61
285

26.9
10.4
5.3
2.0
1.7
1.6
1.1
4.9

Total Group 4:
Other Offences
Drug Offences
Road Traffic Offences

No Insurance (User/Owner)

Drunken Driving (Breath/Blood/Urine Specimen)

Dangerous Driving (Speeding/Careless)

Unauthorised Taking of Mechanically Propelled Vehicle (MPV)

Non Display of Disc (Insurance/Road Tax/NCT/Parking)

No Driving Licence (Owner/Driver)

Unauthorised Carriage in/on MPV

Other Road Traffic Offences
Other Offences

Threatening/Abusive/Insulting Behaviour in a Public Place

Debtor Offences (Debtor/Fail to pay Maintenance)

Intoxication in a Public Place

Failure to Comply with Direction of a Garda (Resisting Arrest/Obstruction)

Possession of Knives and Other Articles

Failing to Appear (Remand Date/Date Originally Set)

Breach of Barring Order (Interim/Protection/Safety Order)

Failed to make Income Tax Returns

Breach of the Peace

Other Offences in this Category

276
41
122
54
9
2
1
16
8
1
31
113
25
19
8
10
2
5
3
0
0
41

3,512 3,788
489
530
1,442 1,564
657
711
180
189
103
105
90
91
84
100
44
52
36
37
248
279
1,581 1,694
456
481
195
214
127
135
126
136
74
76
74
79
56
59
24
24
30
30
419
460

58.7
8.2
24.2
11.0
2.9
1.6
1.4
1.5
0.8
0.6
4.3
26.2
7.5
3.3
2.1
2.1
1.2
1.2
0.9
0.4
0.5
7.1

3,397
395
1,452
671
130
69
75
42
38
25
402
1,550
461
194
113
56
69
52
47
30
24
504

58.5
6.8
25.0
11.6
2.2
1.2
1.3
0.7
0.7
0.4
6.9
26.7
7.9
3.3
1.9
1.0
1.2
0.9
0.8
0.5
0.4
8.7

Total

476

5,979 6,455 100.0 5,802 100.0

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Table 7: Sentence length by age of offender in 2007
‹3
mths

3 - ‹6
mths

6 - ‹12
mths

1 - ‹2
yrs

2 - ‹3
yrs

3 - ‹5
yrs

5 - ‹10
yrs

10 +
yrs

Life

Total

16
17
18 - ‹21
21 - ‹25
25 - ‹30
30 - ‹40
40 - ‹50
50+

5
18
285
457
420
610
322
176

12
20
198
326
295
337
140
46

17
37
232
310
263
298
102
26

0
4
84
150
116
93
36
26

3
1
55
84
86
67
27
10

2
3
49
99
84
88
22
13

0
1
24
44
55
69
26
12

0
0
2
7
16
14
7
1

0
0
1
3
7
6
1
5

39
84
930
1,480
1,342
1,582
683
315

2,293

1,374

1,285

509

333

360

231

6,455

Total

Table 8: Offence by Sentence length of offender in 2007

‹3
mths

Murder
0
Manslaughter
0
Sexual Offences
1
Other Offences
Against the Person
77
Offences Against
Property with Violence
1
Offences Against
Property without Violence 332
Drug Offences
78
Road Traffic Offences
761
Other Offences
1,043
Total

2,293

3 - ‹6
mths

6 - ‹12
mths

1 - ‹2
yrs

2 - ‹3
yrs

3 - ‹5
yrs

5 - ‹10
yrs

10 +
yrs

Life

Total

0
0
5

0
0
9

0
1
26

0
1
14

0
0
14

0
13
29

0
3
17

19
1
1

19
19
116

156

158

127

728

357
70
469
314

555
119
228
210

198
49
57
46

125
47
26
26

131
67
20
31

45
78
3
24

1
22
0
0

0
0
0
0

1,744
530
1,564
1,694

1,374

1,285

509

333

360

231

6,455

Table 9: Offence by age of offender in 2007
Age In Years

18 - ‹21

21 - ‹25

25 - ‹30

30 - ‹40

40 - ‹50

50+

Total

Murder
Manslaughter
Sexual Offences
Other Offences
Against the Person
Offences Against
Property with Violence
Offences Against
Property without Violence
Drug Offences
Road Traffic Offences
Other Offences

0
0
0

0
0
1

1
3
7

2
5
8

7
6
18

4
3
21

1
2
24

4
0
37

19
19
116

153

202

140

143

728

23
0
6
3

44
1
12
17

293
53
215
197

404
142
367
339

388
148
345
282

422
145
374
457

138
35
171
260

32
6
74
139

1,744
530
1,564
1,694

Total

930

1,480

1,342

1,582

683

315

6,455

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Persons detained under immigration laws
In 2007 there were 1,249 committals in respect of immigration issues
involving 1,145 detainees. This represents an increase of 3% over the 1,113
persons detained in 2006.There was an average daily number of persons
in custody under this category of 24.

Figure 4: Time spent in custody by persons committed under the
Immigration Acts

Number of prisoners in custody
Most prisons operated at or near full capacity in 2007. The average
number of prisoners in custody per month shows small variation
around the year’s average, with custody levels highest in June, July and
November. See Table 26.
ñ

700
631

600
500
400
300

The overall daily average number of prisoners in custody in 2007 was
3,321, compared to 3,191 in 2006.

205

200

The average number of female offenders in custody was 111,
compared to the 2006 level of 106.

100

31-50

51+

0
0-3

4-7

The average total number in the prison system, which is a combination
of the prisoners in custody (3,321) and those on temporary release (153),
was 3,474 in 2007. The corresponding figures for 2006 were 3,191 in
custody and 140 on temporary release giving an average of 3,331.

8-14

15-30
Days

Table 10: Daily average number of prisoners per institution 2007

Institution

Bed
Capacity

Average
No in Custody

% Bed
Capacity

Reviewable
TR

Total

Sex
Offenders

Immigration
Warrant Cases

Arbour Hill
Castlerea
Cloverhill
Cork
Limerick (f )
Limerick (m)
Loughan House
Midlands
Mountjoy (f )
Mountjoy (m)
Portlaoise
Shelton Abbey
St Patrick’s
Training Unit
Wheatfield

139
228
432
268
20
274
105
465
86
540
198
60
216
96
374

138
230
418
264
19
277
87
442
92
518
117
55
197
91
376

99.3
100.9
96.8
98.5
95.0
101.1
82.9
95.1
107.0
95.9
59.1
91.6
91.2
94.8
100.5

0
3
3
23
5
13
5
13
22
37
1
14
3
4
7

138
233
421
287
24
290
92
455
114
555
118
69
200
95
383

80
19
0
6
0
3
0
74
0
0
0
0
7
0
60

1
0
16
1
0
1
0
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
0

Total

3,501

3,321

94.9

153

3,474

249

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Snapshot of Prison Population
The profile of the prison population on any one day is perhaps the most
reliable indicator of the prisoners we have within the system. See Tables
26 to 30 for further details.

Table 12: Age Profile of Prisoners in Custody under Sentence on 5
December 2007

On 5 December 2007, the prison population totalled 3,334

16
17
18 - ‹21
21 - ‹25
25 - ‹30
30 - ‹40
40 - ‹50
50+

0
0
7
7
24
16
8
4

Total

ñ
ñ
ñ

Sentenced
Remand/Awaiting Trial/Others
Immigration

2,696
619
19

This total included 228 offenders serving sentences for murder and 84 for
manslaughter. Drug offences accounted for 471 offenders (17%) and road
traffic offences 191 (7%).
Some 239 prisoners were serving life sentences and another 208 were
serving determinate sentences of ten years or more, and accounted for
8.9 percent and 7.7 percent of the total population respectively.
With regard to prisoners serving shorter sentences, 57 offenders were
serving sentences of less than three months representing just over 2%
of the sentenced prison population. Sixteen prisoners were in prison for
non-payment of debt or fines.
As regards nationality, Irish nationals accounted for 89.5 percent of
the total number of persons in custody under sentence on the
5 December 2007
Table 11: Nationality of persons in custody under sentence on 5
December 2007

Female Male
10
21
290
543
588
677
306
195

Total Female % Male % Total %
10
21
297
550
612
693
314
199

2,630 2,696

0.0
0.0
2.4
1.3
3.9
2.3
2.5
2.0

100.0
100.0
97.6
98.7
96.1
97.7
97.5
98.0

0.4
0.8
11.0
20.4
22.7
25.7
11.6
7.4

2.4

97.6

100.0

Table 13: Sentence Profile of Prisoners in custody under sentence on 5
December 2007

Female Male

‹3 Months
3 to ‹6 Months
6 to ‹12 Months
1 to ‹2 Years
2 to ‹3 Years
3 to ‹5 Years
5 to ‹10 Years
10+ Years
Life Sentence

4
2
12
8
7
17
9
2
5

Total

53
124
263
344
286
499
622
205
234

Total Female % Male % Total %
57
126
275
352
293
516
631
207
239

7.0
1.6
4.4
2.3
2.4
3.3
1.4
1.0
2.1

93.0
98.4
95.6
97.7
97.6
96.7
98.6
99.0
97.9

2.1
4.7
10.2
13.1
10.9
19.1
23.4
7.7
8.9

2.4

97.6

100.0

Female Male Total Female % Male % Total %

Irish
UK
Other EU
Other European
African
Asian
Central/South American
North American

50
4
6
1
4
0
1
0

2,363 2,413
70
74
100
106
20
21
52
56
13
13
8
9
4
4

2.1
5.4
5.7
4.8
7.1
0.0
11.1
0.0

97.9
94.6
94.3
95.2
92.9
100.0
88.9
100.0

89.5
2.7
3.9
0.8
2.1
0.5
0.3
0.1

Total

2,630 2,696

2.4

97.6

100.0

2,630 2,696

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Table 14: Offence Profile of Prisoners in custody under sentence on 5 December 2007

Female

Male

Total

Total Group 1:
Offences Against the Person

Murder

Manslaughter
Sexual Offences
Other Offences Against The Person

Assault

Assault Causing Harm

Assault On Garda

Assault OABH

Other Offences

5
4
0
8
1
5
0
0
2

937

954

35.4

223
80
237
397
100
148
8
17
124

228
84
237
405
101
153
8
17
126

8.5
3.1
8.8
15.0
3.7
5.7
0.3
0.6
4.7

Total Group 2:
Offences Against Property With Violence

3.2

Total Group 3:
Offences Against Property Without Violence

Theft

Criminal Damage

Burglary - Full

Robbery

Handling Stolen Property

Entering Building with intent to Commit Offence

Other Offences in this Category

17
7
1
0
2
3
0
4

679
155
91
89
179
19
14
132

696
162
92
89
181
22
14
136

25.8
6.0
3.4
3.3
6.7
0.8
0.5
5.0

Total Group 4:
Other Offences

928

960

35.6

Drug Offences
Road Traffic Offences

No Insurance (User/Owner)

Drunken Driving (Breath/Blood/Urine Specimen)

Dangerous Driving (Speeding/Careless)

Unauthorised Taking of M.P.V.

Non Display Of Disc (Insurance/Road Tax/NCT/Parking)

No Driving Licence (Owner/Driver)

Unauthorised Carriage in/on M.P.V.

Other Road Traffic Offences
Other Offences

Threatening/Abusive/Insulting Behaviour

Debtor Offences (Debtor/Fail to pay maintenance)

Intoxication in Public

Failure to Comply with Garda Síochána (Resisting arrest/Obstruction)

Possession of Knives & Other Articles

Failing to appear (Remand Date/Date Originally Set)

Breach of Barring Order (Interim/Protection/Safety Order)

Failed to make Income Tax Returns

Breach of the Peace

Other Offences in this Category

23
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
8
0
0
0
1
0
4
1
0
0
2

449
189
36
17
17
60
2
5
8
45
290
36
6
4
11
21
16
12
1
1
182

472
190
36
17
17
60
2
5
9
45
298
36
6
4
12
21
20
13
1
1
184

17.5
7.1
1.3
0.6
0.6
2.2
0.1
0.2
0.3
1.7
11.1
1.3
0.2
0.1
0.4
0.8
0.7
0.5
0.0
0.0
6.8

Total

2,630

2,696

100.0

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Temporary Release
The Criminal Justice (Temporary Release) Act, 2003 and the Prisoners
(Temporary Release) Rules 2004 provide the legislative basis for the
power of the Minister to grant temporary release by setting down the
principles which apply to the exercise of this power. The Act also provides
a clear and transparent basis, as well as the necessary safeguards
required, for the operation of the system of temporary release.
The average number of persons serving sentences who were on
temporary release during 2007 was 153. This amounts to 4.4 percent of
the average total number of prisoners in the system. This is a rise of 0.2
percent on the previous years figure.
At Christmastime an additional number of prisoners are granted varying
periods of temporary release. The figure for 2007 was 137 prisoners. This
figure represented approximately 4 percent of the prisoner population
and was a significant reduction on the number released at Christmas
2006, which was 238 prisoners.
The periods of release varied from a few hours (in some cases
accompanied by another responsible person) up to 10 nights. All releases
were subject to stringent conditions, which in the vast majority of cases
included a requirement to report to the local Garda station. Any offender
who breaks these conditions may be arrested and returned immediately
to prison by the Gardaí.
Prisoners temporarily released at Christmas were coming towards the
end of their sentences and the overriding concern when considering the
applications was the safety of the public. In addition to compassionate
and humane considerations, other criteria taken into account included the
nature and gravity of the offence, length of sentence served to date, prior
record on temporary release, behaviour while in custody and previous
criminal history.
In general, prisoners are considered for temporary release in various
circumstances, for example, release under the direct supervision
of the Probation Service; to employment or training programmes;
on compassionate release because of ill health or family related
circumstances; or for reintegration purposes because they are nearing
the end of their sentence. The judicious use of temporary release remains
an important instrument in the rehabilitation process. It is also used from
time to time to help relieve overcrowding by granting early release to low
risk prisoners coming to the end of their sentence. Each case is examined
on its own merits.
Escapes and Absconds from custody
There were no escapes from within the confines of a closed prisons during
2007 however, three prisoners absconded from the custody of prison officers
while outside a closed institution and these are recorded in Table 15.
A total of 135 prisoners absconded from custody, either from an open
centre or while on accompanied outings (with an officer, a prison chaplain
or other support services, such as a Probation and Welfare Officer). A
number of attempted escapes were frustrated due to the vigilance of
escort staff. Some 106 of those who escaped or absconded were back in
custody by year-end

Table 15: Escapes and Absconds from custody in 2007
Prison

Escapes Absconds Total Returned Still at Large

to custody (31/12/07)

(before 31/12/07)

Arbour Hill
Castlerea
Cloverhill
Cork
Limerick
Loughan House
Midlands
Mountjoy (f )
Mountjoy (m)
Portlaoise
Shelton Abbey
St. Patrick’s
Training Unit
Wheatfield

0
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
61
0
1
0
0
72
0
1
0

0
1
1
0
1
61
0
1
0
0
72
0
1
0

0
1
1
0
1
43
0
1
0
0
58
0
1
0

0
0
0
0
0
18
0
0
0
0
14
0
0
0

Total

135

138

106

Deaths in Custody
There were six deaths in custody in 2007. At the end of the year, inquests
were pending in all of these cases.
On 25 June 2007, Mr. Derek Glennon died following an attack by a fellow
prisoner in Mountjoy Prison.
Mobile Phones in Prisons
Section 36 of the Prisons Act 2007, which was brought into operation from 1
May, 2007 makes it an offence for prisoners to have unauthorised possession
of or use of mobile telecommunication devices.
Mobile phones are viewed as highly valuable commodities which could assist
in illegal activity and eliminating their supply is one of the major challenges
facing prisons worldwide.
Under the Act it is also an offence to supply such a device to a prisoner. The
penalties for such an offence, on summary conviction, include a fine not
exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or
both, and on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €10,000 or
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or both.
It is Irish Prison Service policy to report seizures of mobile phones to the
Garda authorities. By the end of 2007 two thousand one hundred and twentyfour mobile phones had been seized in the institutions.
Interim Parole Board
The Parole Board was established by the Minister for Justice, Equality and
Law Reform to review the cases of prisoners with longer term sentences and
to provide advice in relation to the administration of those sentences.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

The cases of 74 prisoners were referred to the Board during 2007. In addition
two cases were re-referred to the Board for review and one prisoner, who
having previously declined an invitation to participate in the review process,
accepted the invitation during 2007 bringing the total number of cases to 77.
In addition to dealing with new referrals, 108 cases, at various stages of the
review process, were carried over from 2006 and 44 cases were scheduled for
a second or subsequent review.
During 2007 the Board made recommendations to the Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform in 73 cases, the same number as in the previous
year. The Minister accepted in full the recommendations of the Board in the
majority of the cases.
Outcome of recommendations made by the Parole Board to the Minister for
Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Recommendations made

Outcomes
Recommendations accepted in full
Recommendations accepted in part
Recommendations not accepted
Ministerial decisions pending

73
66
4
1
2

Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons statistics
In total, 134 prisoners have now transferred into the Irish Prison system from
abroad and 91 prisoners have transferred out since the Transfer of Sentenced
Persons Act, 1995 came into operation on 1 November, 1995.
In 2007, eight prisoners transferred into the State; 6 from the United
Kingdom, 1 from Spain and 1 from Japan. Fourteen prisoners were transferred
out of this jurisdiction during 2007; 8 to the United Kingdom, 2 to Northern
Ireland, 3 to the Netherlands and 1 to the USA.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

02 Care and Rehabilitation of Prisoners
The Irish Prison Service aims to provide a range of care services to prisoners to a standard
commensurate with that obtaining in the wider community. These services include medical, dental,
psychiatric, psychological, education, vocational training, work, welfare, spiritual, counselling and
recreational services. These services are important in sustaining prisoners’ physical and mental
health and preparing them for reintegration into society following release.

There was continuing high demand for the services outlined above in
2007. The new organisational and working arrangements under the
Proposal for Organisational Change helped towards the restoration
of prisoner regimes and services which had been constrained by the
budgetary restraint measures introduced in 2004 due to the then
industrial relations situation.
Integrated Sentence Management
Sentence management processes have operated in the Irish prison
system for many years to the benefit of prisoners and the community.
Over much of this time, the development of these processes to their full
potential has, however, been constrained by a number of factors.

prisons, including some provision for the summer months and special
teaching arrangements where prisoners are segregated. In addition, three
full-time librarians employed by Dublin Public Libraries, work in prisons
in the Dublin area and part-time library staff work in the open prisons at
Loughan House and Shelton Abbey. Two full-time library staff began work
in Portlaoise and the Midlands prisons in 2007. Prison staff assist in the
delivery of education in certain areas. Prison officers assist the librarian
staff and operate library services in some prisons.
Other agencies also contribute significantly to prison education, for
example:
ñ

New regulatory, organisational and working arrangements, together with
the ongoing programme of modernisation of the prison estate and the
addition of new programmes and services, have transformed the situation
in recent times. The Irish Prison Service commenced the development
of a fully coordinated Integrated Sentence Management system (ISM)
in 2007. Funding for this initiative is to be provided under the National
Development Plan 2007-2013.
ISM will involve a new orientation in the delivery of services to prisoners
and a new emphasis on prisoners taking greater personal responsibility
for their own development through active engagement with both
specialist and non-specialist services in the prisons. The end result will be
a prisoner-centred, multidisciplinary approach to working with prisoners
with provision for initial assessment, goal setting and periodic review to
measure progress.
The Prison Education Service
Education in prisons is delivered by way of a partnership between
the Irish Prison Service and a range of educational agencies from the
community. Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and Public Library
Services make the largest contribution to, and are the mainstay of, the
Prison Education Services.
The Department of Education and Science provided an allocation of
220 whole-time teacher equivalents to the prisons through the VECs in
the academic year 2006/07. This enabled education to be offered in all

ñ
ñ

The Open University, which now caters for well over 100 prisoners
annually on degree-level distance education courses;
The Arts Council, which provides writers’ workshops and artists’
workshops;
Other third-level colleges, such as the National College of Art and
Design, which is involved in Portlaoise and Midlands prisons, and the
Law Department of UCC which is involved in Cork Prison.

A high quality Education Unit became available at Loughan House in 2007
and a new Education Unit at Limerick was nearing completion.
The Curriculum
The objectives, methods and course content of education provision
in prisons are largely those of adult education. Further Education
and Training Awards Council (FETAC) accreditation is widely used in
prison education, with all prison education centres meeting the quality
assurance standards demanded by FETAC.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

ñ
In broad terms, courses may be classified as follows:
ñ
ñ
ñ
ñ
ñ
ñ

Basic Education, including Literacy, Numeracy and the Teaching of
English as a Second Language.
General subjects, e.g. English, History, Geography, Mathematics,
Languages, Information Technology.
Physical Education, Home Economics and Health Education.
The Arts, e.g. Visual arts, Music, Drama, Creative Writing,
Photography and Film-Making.
Technology Courses (e.g. Woodwork, Metalwork) and Horticulture.
Courses that address particular problems or needs that prisoners
have, e.g. Pre-Release courses, Addiction Awareness, Childcare,
Group Skills, Anger Management.

Participation in education
Participation in education varies with factors such as access, facilities,
turnover of population and segregation. At the end of 2007, based on
enrolment figures for a sample week, 50 percent of prisoners were
involved in education, with approximately 25 percent involved for 10
hours or more per week. The pattern of participation for each prison may
be seen in Table 16. Participation in education is counted as involvement
in at least one structured class in the sample week.

Table 16: Participation in Education
Prison

Arbour Hill
Castlerea
Cloverhill
Cork
Dóchas Centre
Limerick
Loughan House
Midlands
Mountjoy
Portlaoise
Shelton Abbey
St. Patrick’s Institution
Training Unit
Wheatfield
Total

Participation

Population
(21/11/07)

Percentage
%

Intensive
Participation*

Intensive
Participation %

120
115
46
167
73
150
48
201
232
97
45
111
62
208

138
230
425
269
94
292
86
441
542
113
57
199
94
373

87%
50%
11%
62%
78%
51%
56%
46%
43%
86%
79%
56%
66%
56%

66
42
14
76
58
96
42
44
146
23
24
84
10
128

48%
18%
3%
28%
62%
33%
49%
10%
27%
20%
42%
42%
11%
34%

1,675

3,353

50%

853

25%

Figures based on enrolment in sample week in November 2007
* Intensive participation = Involved in structured classes for 10 hours or more per week

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Literacy and Basic Education
During 2007 progress continued in relation to Literacy and general basic
education provision - a priority area for prison education in response to
a very significant need. The strategy is to draw on best practice in adult
literacy work in the community, as found, for example, in VEC provision
and as expressed in the policies of the National Adult Literacy Agency.
Prison Education: Other Developments
A major conference in Prison Education, organised by the Irish Prison
Education Association, with financial assistance from the Irish Prison
Service, took place at Dublin City University. Some 170 prison educators
from 33 countries attended the 11th European Prison Education
Association (EPEA) conference which was held over four days in June 2007
(see www.epea.org).
Also in June 2007, a national prison art exhibition was held in Kilmainham
Gaol in Dublin.
Work and Vocational Training in Prisons
The Irish Prison Service places a strong emphasis on the provision of
vocational training activities for prisoners. Training activities are chosen
to give as much employment as possible for those in prison and to give
opportunities to acquire skills which will help them secure employment
on their release. A wide range of training workshops operate within the
institutions, e.g. printing, computers, Braille, woodwork, metalwork,
construction, industrial contract cleaning, craft, horticulture and
electronics. In addition, the work and training function comprehends such
essential services as catering and laundry services.
While external accreditation of certified training is available for a
number of courses run within the institutions, work was ongoing during
2007 to develop a quality assurance system (QAS) to underpin the
FETAC certification of a range of additional activities. City and Guilds
accreditation in a number of skills areas, such as waste management and
hurley repair, was also progressed during the year.
Work and Training
There is an authorised complement of over 250 posts involved in work
and training - a major increase on the numbers engaged prior to the
Proposal for Organisational Change (158). Over 90 workshops actively
catered for over 860 prisoners each day which represents approximately
26 percent of the daily prisoner population.
New Programmes and Activities
New programmes and activities were developed in a number of institutions
and a refurbishment and equipment replacement programme continued in
other workshops. One of the new developments was the establishment of a
National Apprenticeship Programme in Professional Cookery in partnership
with the Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT). This three year course leads
to a national certificate, accredited by FETAC. Prisoners who achieve the
certification will become qualified chefs which will significantly enhance
their employment prospects on release from custody.
The work training database system, which was rolled out to nine prisons
during the previous year, was extended to a further four prisons during
2007. The database facilitates the tracking of prisoners’ participation and
progress in work and vocational training activities and courses during
20

their time in custody. It also assists in the monitoring and evaluation of
the level and effectiveness of work and training services to prisoners.
Community Assistance Programmes and Project Work
Community assistance programmes and community project work
continued throughout the year. Several prisons raised funds and provided
a wide range of material and products for charitable organisations.
Beneficiaries included Barnardos, Aware, Barretstown Gang Camp, the
Arts for Peace project, CARI (Children at Risk in Ireland) and To Russia with
Love (an organisation that helps orphaned Russian children).
Partnership arrangements with FAS, the Probation Service, the Linkage
Programme and Pobal were maintained and strengthened during the
year in the interest of improving prisoners’ prospects of employability
on their return to the community. All the organisations mentioned are
participating in the development partnership of an EQUAL project which
was launched in 2005. The main aim of the action research project is to
maximise the employment and resettlement opportunities for prisoners
and ex-prisoners from the committal areas of Castlerea and Cork prisons
through the development of integrated appropriate training, mentoring
and guidance services and associated research. There is a range of other
statutory and community voluntary agencies and organisations involved
in the project including a number of Area Partnership Companies and
Vocational Education Committees. The purpose of the course was to
equip prisoners with the necessary information and skills to set up their
own business on release.
Dormant Accounts Funding
The Irish Prison Service secured Dormant Accounts Funding for
employability support projects. Under this initiative, two Linkage
Programme Training and Employment Officers (TEOs) were engaged
to provide a fulltime information, career guidance and a dedicated
training, education and placement service to prisoners in the Mountjoy
and Midlands campuses. The two TEOs concerned commenced work
during the late summer of 2007. Within four months of the start of the
new service, 123 referrals had already been made to the two TEOs. Also
in 2007, the IPS secured €500,000 of this funding to establish a pilot
mentoring resettlement scheme for the Training Unit, the Dóchas Centre
and St. Patrick’s Institution.
Psychology Service
The Psychology Service forms part of the Regimes Directorate of the
Irish Prison Service and applies psychological research, principles
and skills to the needs of the prison service. As well as maintaining a
commitment to the provision of mental health services to offenders, the
Service addresses those factors that put offenders at risk of re-offending;
participates in the development of group programmes for particular
offender groups; contributes to a variety of training initiatives with prison
officers aimed at enhancing the role of the officer and is involved in the
development of strategy, policy and protocols in areas significant to the
operation of the prison system. The Service also supports and facilitates
research projects, including the evaluation of interventions
with offenders.
The Psychology Service comprises 7 clinical psychologists, 7 counselling
psychologists, 1 forensic psychologist and 2 psychologists in clinical training.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Work Undertaken by Psychologists
The primary focus of the work undertaken by psychologists in the various
prisons can be categorised under three main headings:
ñ Individual Work
ñ Group Interventions
ñ Regime/policy development work.
Individual work has been the primary role of the Psychology Service.
While an offender may be seen for any of a number of reasons, such
individual sessions generally fall into one of three categories:
ñ
ñ

Therapeutic work is typically longer-term work and focuses on mental
health issues
Motivational counselling involves encouraging the offender to
address long-standing problems such as addictions or a criminal
lifestyle, where there is an ambivalent attitude towards change.
Crisis counselling is offered to those offenders managing highly
stressful circumstances or emotions, such as those who are
feeling suicidal or those who have experienced a recent trauma,
such as bereavement.

Considerable effort was devoted to individual work in most prisons in 2007.
In Mountjoy, for example, 195 individual referrals were processed during the
year, involving 153 prisoners; 14 clinics were provided per week.
Group programmes were delivered on motivational enhancement, relapse
prevention, anxiety management (in Mountjoy); dialectical behaviour
therapy, stress management (in the Dóchas Centre), sex offending (Arbour
Hill), enhanced thinking skills and anger control training (Cork). Some of
the programmes were delivered in association with the Probation Service
and contracted addiction counsellors.
Research and programme development activity focused on manual
development for anger management and anxiety management; a
motivation-to-change programme for prisoners who misuse drugs;
administration of the Hanson and Harris measure as part of a project
on child sex offenders; evaluation of a Cognitive Behavioural Anxiety
Management Group; an evaluation of two Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
(CBT) programmes run within prisons and an evaluation of the screening
instrument used; and a qualitative study of prisoners’ experience of
personal violence.
Working with Sex Offenders
Every effort is made to assist sex offenders in custody who are willing to
participate at any level in rehabilitation and relapse prevention. While
offenders can be supported and encouraged in their efforts to change and
to address their offending behaviour, ultimately successful completion
of any intervention programme depends on the willing participation
and commitment of appropriately motivated individuals. The challenge,
therefore, for the Irish Prison Service, is to use a range of channels to
motivate as many offenders as possible to undertake change and to
address their offending behaviour.
There are three main forms of direct therapeutic intervention for sex offenders
currently operating within the Irish prison system. These are as follows:
ñ

An intensive sex offender programme which has been in operation
since 1994,

ñ
ñ

Individual counselling from the Irish Prison Service’s Psychology
Service and from the Probation Service, and
One-to-one interventions by visiting psychiatrists who provide
support to prisoners.

The intensive programme is an 11-month group programme managed
and delivered by the Irish Prison Service’s Psychology Service in
partnership with the Probation Service. Although delivered in Arbour Hill
Prison, it is available to sex offenders in other prisons. The programme
is a structured, offence-focused programme, employing a cognitive
behavioural approach with a relapse prevention component. The
programme places considerable emphasis on the therapeutic process
within the group and on supporting each participant in gaining the
knowledge, skills, attitudes and self confidence necessary to live life
differently and more constructively in the future. The programme seeks to
address the behaviour that leads to offending. Eight offenders completed
the programme in 2007 and a further programme commenced in Arbour
Hill in the autumn of 2007. A total of 128 sex offenders have completed
the programme since its inception in 1994.
A review of the Sex Offender Programme has been initiated as part of
a more general review of models of intervention, taking account of the
recommendations of the Joint Committee on Child Protection which
reported in 2006. The objective is to increase the range and availability
of therapeutic interventions, improve participation rates and enhance
the effectiveness of interventions. Options under consideration include
more flexible delivery of programmes based on individual offender’s
risks, needs and capacity. The likely outcome is a package of sex offender
interventions comprising group and individual programmes for a
significantly larger group of offenders.
Chaplaincy
There are 20 fulltime and 5 part-time chaplains in the Irish Prison Service.
The chaplains are responsible for the pastoral and spiritual care of the
entire prison community and approach this in a holistic way. They also aim
to provide a link with the wider community.
The chaplains work within the multidisciplinary framework of the prison
and attend meetings and case conferences organised within the prisons.
The confidential nature of the chaplain’s role is respected at all times and
this contributes to the unique nature of their work.
On a day-to-day basis, the chaplains visit prisoners in all parts of the
prison. They aim to meet all prisoners as soon as possible after committal
and to support those about to be released. They spend time with people
at times of bereavement and loss and liaise with families through phone
calls, meetings and home visits.
Probation Service
As a result of a national audit of service delivery in 2006, the Probation
Service undertook a radical restructuring exercise during 2007. This
involved a redistribution of staff to match the changing population
demographics and an alignment of structures with those of the Courts
Service by utilising county boundaries. A national Young Persons
Probation Division was also set in operation. For the Service’s work in
prisons, the restructuring brought a newly formed national region entitled
‘Prisoners, Risk and Resettlement’. The Region replaced a structure
of service delivery, which was based on geographical areas, with one
21

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

region and dedicated staff. The new region will now focus on developing
consistent practice throughout the prison estate and will provide a clear
structure to support the delivery of Integrated Sentence Management
in partnership with the Irish Prison Service. The Region comprises 12 of
the 14 prisons with St Patrick’s remaining as part of the Young Persons
Probation Division and Cloverhill, as a remand prison, being assigned to
the Homeless Offenders Team.
Homelessness
Appropriate and accessible accommodation is a vital factor in successful
rehabilitation. It is crucial to sustaining employment, treatment, family
support and finances. The issue of homelessness among ex-prisoners
is an ongoing problem. Over recent years, the Irish Prison Service,
working in partnership with the Probation Service, has taken a number
of initiatives to help alleviate the extent and risk of homelessness.
During 2007, the Irish Prison Service continued its representation on
the Cross-Departmental Team on Homelessness, the National Homeless
Consultative Committee, the Homeless Agency Consultative Forum and a
range of other fora focused on addressing the accommodation needs of
persons at risk of homelessness, including prisoners.
The Homeless Persons’ Unit (HPU) of the Health Service Executive
(HSE) extended its in-reach community welfare service to 10 prisons
during 2007. This service, delivered in partnership with the Probation
Service and the Irish Prison Service, ensures that prisoners at risk
of homelessness on release have a direct access to accommodation
placement and income maintenance support. Figures for 2007 indicate
that 590 prisoners accessed this service.
In September 2007, Focus Ireland commenced a new pilot homeless
service initiative in Cloverhill Prison. Focus Ireland are providing a case
management and pre-settlement service for prisoners, mainly aged
18-25, who are homeless and on remand to Cloverhill. The service aims
to provide a seamless service between prison, homeless services and
accommodation, supporting each participant in accessing appropriate
services and accommodation and on the pathway to independent living.
In addition to the IPS, the project is being supported by the Probation
Service, and by the HSE HPU.
Dormant Accounts Funding
The Irish Prison Service has secured €250,000 of Dormant Accounts
Funding for the provision of homelessness support services to prisoners
at risk in Cork and Limerick prisons. The call for proposals issued in
November 2007 with a closing date in January 2008.

ñ
ñ

Reducing the supply of drugs into prisons and helping those addicted
to drugs to break the cycle of crime and drug abuse will remain a
central focus.
Drug Rehabilitation Programmes
Drug rehabilitation programmes for prisoners involve a significant
multidimensional input by a diverse range of general and specialist
services provided both by the Irish Prison Service and visiting statutory
and non-statutory organisations. The programmes seek to reduce the
demand for drugs within the prison system through education, treatment
and rehabilitation services for drug-addicted prisoners. Particular
initiatives include, inter alia, the provision of detoxification, methadone
maintenance, education programmes, addiction counselling and drug
therapy programmes.
The Drugs Policy and Strategy mentioned above sees existing drug
treatment programmes being expanded and enhanced with the further
recruitment of nurses, as well as other staff, including prison officers.
The expansion of these services is being achieved in partnership with
community-based services and will see a significant improvement in the
range, quality and availability of drug treatment services in the prisons.
Specific developments advanced during 2007 include:
ñ

Drugs and Prison
The Irish Prison Service continued the roll-out of its Drugs Policy and
Strategy - entitled Keeping Drugs out of Prison. This drugs strategy was
launched in May 2006 and significant progress has been made to date in
its implementation.
Reduction of Supply of Illicit Drugs
During 2007 the Irish Prison Service introduced further new facilities and
procedures to have, in as far as is possible, a prison system free of drugs.
Specific measures which have been taken include:
ñ
22

New prison visiting arrangements which involve greater control
over the number and identity of visitors, and enhanced supervision

of such visits. As a result only identified and known persons are
allowed to have visits with prisoners, reducing the likelihood of
visitors attempting to pass drugs, and of prisoners being coerced
into receiving visits from persons not known to them to facilitate the
passing of drugs.
Enhanced perimeter security involving improved netting and closer
cooperation with the Garda Síochána to arrest and prosecute persons
attempting to convey drugs into prisons. This has resulted in arrest,
prosecution and imprisonment of persons attempting to convey drugs
into prisons.
Improved technology for searching of cells and prison property which
has resulted in the improved detection and seizure of contraband.
Improved prison design aimed at ensuring greater security, for
example new prisons are designed to be impervious to attempts to
propel drugs into prison yards,
The introduction of drug detection dogs to monitor persons entering
prisons and to aid searches within prisons.
The establishment of an Operational Support Group dedicated to, and
developing expertise in, searching and gathering intelligence.

The awarding of a contract for the provision of Addiction Counsellor
Services to Merchants Quay Ireland. The Addiction Counselling
Service will, in conjunction with other developments, deliver 1,000
hours per week of prisoner access to addiction counselling.
The allocation of additional nurse officers and prison officers to
dedicated Drug Treatment Teams in prisons with significant needs,
improving service quality in prisons.
The provision of funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund to
community groups to provide addiction counselling and support to
prisoners while in prison and on release in the community.
The provision of additional specialist sessions in addiction psychiatry,
significantly improving the quality, co-ordination and availability of
drug treatment in prisons.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

These services will be provided on the basis of clinical needs and will be
supported by the implementation of a system of mandatory drug testing
(provided for in the Prisons Act 2007).
Drug Treatment
The number of prisoners who are in receipt of various drug treatment
interventions continues to increase year on year. The IPS was the second
highest provider nationally of new treatment contacts and Cloverhill
Prison continues to demonstrate the highest clinical activity in this area.
However, accessing treatment places on discharge from prison continues
to present the IPS with significant challenges.
The introduction of formal Addiction Counselling services across the
prison estate, by means of a contract arrangement with Merchants Quay,
will greatly increase our ability to respond to the needs of the addicted
population in prisons. The addition of this service has been widely
welcomed by all disciplines interfacing with drug users in prisons. While
additional clinical resources have been approved to assist in improving
the overall coordination of treatment the dedicated therapeutic resources
available remain less than in comparable community settings.
Considerable work was undertaken during the year in consultation with
practitioners at local prison level to draft a Drug Treatment Clinical Policy
document to provide guidance to practitioners regarding various clinical
issues that may arise in treating addiction in a prison context. The policy
will increase standardisation of approach and improve quality of care
to prisoners.
Table 17 - Numbers receiving Methadone Substitution during 2007

Total
Patients
during
period

Total New (1st time
Patients patient on
at End of Central
Period
Treatment List)

Cloverhill Prison
Dóchas Centre
Limerick Prison
Midlands Prison
Mountjoy Main Prison
Mountjoy Prison Medical Unit
Portlaoise Prison
St. Patrick’s Institution
Wheatfield Prison

710
225
10
90
474
120
3
15
193

176
38
3
30
112
53
1
6
90

124
26
0
8
9
8
1
0
9

TOTALS for 9 Clinics

1840

509

185

As part of the roll-out of the Drugs Policy, discussion continued with the
HSE regarding the possibility of establishing a joint HSE/IPS arrangement
for the provision and management of pharmacists to provide addiction/
drug treatment pharmacist services. However as this option was not
possible it was decided to tender for the service and financial sanction
was obtained for the provision a professional pharmacy service on a
contractual basis.

A tender competition was subsequently advertised in November for
the provision of Drug Treatment Pharmacists Services to five prisons
– Mountjoy, Dóchas, Wheatfield, Cloverhill and Midlands. It is hoped that
the introduction of this service will be possible following a successful
tender competition.
Regular contact was maintained with HSE Pharmacist colleagues,
working in Drug Treatment Services, to ensure effective and efficient
communication between prisons and clinics, when clients move between
both areas of healthcare, particularly at Christmas time.
Preventing Self-Harm
The Irish Prison Service Steering Group on Prevention of Self-harm and
Death in the Prisoner Population met on three occasions in 2007. The
Group promote best practice in the Irish Prison Service in preventing
and, where necessary, responding to self-harm and death in the
prisoner population.
HEALTHCARE
Service Developments
During 2007 there has been significant progress in developing an
appropriate Nurse Management structure at establishment level (see
below). This will significantly assist in coordinating the organisation of
healthcare interventions and it is hoped to complete the implementation
of a management structure in all locations by early 2008.
Following on the resolution of the Prison Doctor’s strike in 2004 it was
agreed as part of the industrial relations process that independent
reviews be undertaken 1) to consider the availability and suitability
of facilities and support structures to facilitate the medical provision
of primary care within the prison environment, and, 2) to consider the
appropriateness of current medical structures for current and future
demands for the assessment, treatment and care of substance misusers
such that the services provided are comparable to those available in
the community and are appropriate to the prison setting. Both reviews
commenced in 2007 and should be completed in 2008 and circulated
to the relevant parties for discussion as part of the on-going industrial
relations process aimed at achieving satisfactory and full implementation
of the doctors contract.
Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment Visit, September 2006
The Report of this visit was received during 2007 and following
consideration the Report together with the Response of the Irish
Government was made public towards the end of the year. Comments and
recommendations relating to the organisation and provision of health
services to prisoners are in the process of being implemented and this
process will continue.
Prison Medical Record System (PMRS)
During the year the use of the PMRS has increased and by end year it was
in use, with certain exceptions, across the IPS estate. Use of the system
for the routine recording of clinical intervention will significantly assist
in overcoming difficulties and deficits which have historically existed.
With the development of new pharmacy arrangements (see below) it is
essential that the system be employed fully for recording the prescription
and administration of medication as this mechanism is required to
23

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

enable the efficient ordering and dispensing of prescribed medications.
Arising from user feedback a significant number of system updates
were identified and financial resources obtained to further improve
functionality. It is hoped to have these improvements introduced as early
as possible in 2008.
NURSING
2007 saw the introduction of nurse managers in healthcare. There are 14
posts in total, the majority of which have been filled. The development
of a ‘Prison Complex’ management structure for nursing is particularly
innovative. The first of these posts to be filled was in the Mountjoy
complex and it is assisting in standardising healthcare inputs and
ensuring the quality of nursing interventions at prison level.
Primary care underpins all developments in healthcare provision.
While treatment of addiction continues to form a significant part of the
healthcare workload, the addition of specific addiction nursing posts have
added greatly to the quality of treatment interventions and through-care.
This development has been widely welcomed by both practitioners and
members of the multi disciplinary team.
The full implementation of the nursing management structure will assist
in developing the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system
in prisons, in addition developing accountability structures that are
essential to ensure better healthcare risk management. Recruitment of
nurses into the prison system has not been problematic and our attrition
rates remain one of the lowest when compared to the nursing workforce
planning data available nationally.
PHARMACY SERVICES
Professional Pharmacy Services:
Following the awarding of tenders, professional pharmacy services
were introduced to the Training Unit (January 07), Arbour Hill (March
07), Portlaoise (April 07), St. Patrick’s (July 07), Wheatfield (August 07),
Midlands (October 07) and Castlerea (October 07). The introduction of
these contracts ensures that all prisoners in these institutions now have
access to professional pharmacy services, on an equivalent basis to that
available in the community, taking into consideration the constraints
that custody imposes. Both the technical (supply) and professional
(pharmaceutical care) elements of pharmacy service provision are now
provided as part of these contracts.
It is planned to introduce similar services to the remaining prisons early
in 2008.
While ensuring that all prescriptions are now monitored and checked
by a pharmacist, and dispensed on an individual patient-basis, the
introduction of pharmacy services also supports more effective throughcare, as each prisoner’s dispensed medicines are now sent with him/her
on transfer to another prison, thus ensuring continuity of essential
treatment. Similarly, where appropriate, a prisoner’s dispensed medicines
can be given to him/her on full or temporary release again supporting
continuity of necessary treatment until the prisoner can engage with the
community healthcare services.
The total expenditure on pharmaceuticals (medicines, dressings and other

medical supplies) in 2007 was €2,396,502.40, which was a decrease of
7% (€172,557) on the 2006 expenditure. When the pharmacy service
is operational in each prison, it will be possible to provide an accurate
report on the cost of pharmaceuticals for all prisons.
The average daily population for 2007 was 3,321, and so the average
cost per prison space was €722, which is a significant decrease from the
average 2006 cost of €805. The annual cost of pharmacy services per
person of those who availed of pharmaceutical services in 2006 was €809.
Joint HSE/IPS Contracts
The supply of flu vaccines to all prisons was once again arranged on
the basis of a joint HSE/IPS contract, thus ensuring availability of these
vaccines in a timely manner.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

03 HUMAN RESOURCES
In 2007, in addition to provision of day to day human resources services (pensions, allowances,
absence management, implementation of policies and procedures in line with employment
legislation, etc.) for approximately 3,300 staff, significant developments included a major recruitment
drive for the new recruit prison officer grade and the completion of the decentralisation of Prison
Service Headquarters to Longford in July 2007.

Recruitment
A major recruitment campaign for recruit prison officers (RPOs), a position
introduced in the context of the roll out of the agreed Proposal Organisational
Change (July 2005), took place in March 2007. A three stage recruitment
competition was completed and a panel of successful candidates formed.
Two hundred and sixty five staff were appointed in 2007 and employed on the
conditions of service agreed for the new Recruit Prison Officer.
A demand for accelerated recruitment arose from a decision by the
Government to approve resources for a range of security measures aimed at
preventing contraband from entering the prisons. It was necessary to increase
the capacity of the Irish Prison Service Training and Development Centre to
cope with the increased influx of recruits.
Training and Development
Recruit prison officers are required to undergo an intensive training and
development programme co-ordinated by IPS Training and Development Centre
(IPSTDC). The training is provided through a two year programme and syllabus
which leads to the award of a National Certificate Level 6 HETAC accreditation.
The Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (HCCC) programme was accredited by
HETAC in March 2007 and the first entrants to the programme were enrolled in
September 2007. The raising of the standard of training of recruits in the HCCC
programme is to ensure a high degree of professionalism so that the officers
are fully competent in the role. The HCCC provides social, educational, legal
and other skills and knowledge to RPO’s, enhancing the professionalism of the
service. The course provides an integrated approach to the values, standards
and behaviour of international best practice. It is intended that serving prison
officers will be offered an opportunity to obtain the HCCC qualification.
The IPSTDC maintained commitments to earlier training courses and
obligations such as development and delivery of training in Prison Rules
2007 and delivery of EUJUST LEX programme. Also, continuous professional
development programmes emphasising operational needs were developed
for all managerial grades as a result of the extensive Training Needs Analysis
findings and as a result of the implementation of the Performance Management
and Development System.
Decentralisation to Longford
The Irish Prison Service was one of the first Government offices to
move under the decentralisation programme. Decentralisation involved
the relocation of the full HQ staff complement, comprising 141 posts.
These were mainly general Civil Service grades, but also included some
26

professional grades and contract staff. Staff turnover as a result of the move
to Longford was over 80 percent. The staff shortfalls at various grades were
met through a combination of new applications assigned from the Central
Application Facility (CAF), promotions and open recruitment.
Organisational Change
The new working arrangements agreed and implemented under the
revised Proposal for Organisational Change in the Irish Prison Service (July
2005), continued to operate successfully. Under the new arrangements,
staff are contracted to work an annual rather than a weekly number of
hours, thus enabling management to structure attendance to better meet
work demands in areas which are unpredictable.
The focus during 2007 was on reinforcing the operation of the Agreement
and on completing the implementation of some outstanding elements. For
example, a new roster was negotiated with the POA for staff of the Prison
Service Escort Corps (PSEC) in accordance with the terms of the agreed
Proposal for Organisational Change. The new roster, which matches
attendance with the Courts sitting terms, is working well and PSEC is now
providing a more efficient and flexible service with increased levels of
escort coverage.
Progress continued to be made towards completing the agreed staffing
configurations for each prison by way of recruitment, promotions,
transfers, etc. Achievement of these configurations is essential to the
effective operation of the Agreement.
The Agreement on the Proposal for Organisational Change provided
for the restructuring of the Maintenance and Stores areas and work
on this aspect of the Agreement continued in 2007. However, some
difficulties in relation to this restructuring were encountered during the
year. These related to the redeployment of surplus staff, the failure to
reach agreement on new rosters and establishing centralised stores in
the manner contemplated in the Agreement. Work on resolving these
difficulties is ongoing.
The Agreement on the Proposal for Organisational Change provides for
the payment of lump sums to staff in four instalments over the first three
years of the operation of the Agreement. The third such instalment was
due for payment in November 2007. These payments are dependent on
the full co-operation of staff with the operation of the additional hours
system provided for by the Agreement. This Report was completed in

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

August 2007 and the relevant lump sum payment was approved.
Payment of the lump sum due in respect of 2007 was made following
an assessment of the operation of the agreement.
Monitoring of sick leave by the HR Directorate, coupled with the
introduction of the annualised hours system, has contributed towards a
17.4% reduction in sick leave relative to 2006 levels. Intensive monitoring
of absenteeism will continue with a view to ensuring a consistent
reduction in sick leave.
Industrial Action
During the year there were a number of instances of industrial action,
both official and unofficial. This sort of action is not in keeping with the
spirit of the Agreement on the Proposal for Organisational Change or with
the terms of ‘Towards 2016’ and is a cause for serious concern for the Irish
Prison Service.
Employee Assistance Programme
With a view to enhancing and developing the Employee Assistance
Programme, a Chief Welfare Officer (CWO) was appointed in 2007.
The CWO, in conjunction with Human Resource Directorate, Governors,
Welfare Officers, Staff Support Officers and the Employee Advisory
Committee is tasked with developing the welfare service across all
prisons. The CWO is supported by 2 Employee Welfare Officers and in
the region of 50 voluntary Staff Support Officers.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

04 Managing The Prison Estate
Implementation of the prison building and refurbishment programme continued
throughout the year. A key feature of this programme is the replacement of approximately
40% of the prison estate that is old and in poor condition in accordance with the
commitment in the Programme for Government.

This will include the replacement of the four prisons on the Mountjoy
Campus (Mountjoy male prison, Dóchas Centre (female prison),
St. Patrick’s Institution and the Training Unit) with a new modern
operationally efficient prison at Thornton Hall in north County Dublin
and a new Munster prison development to replace Cork Prison. It is also
planned to replace the older parts of Portlaoise Prison and Limerick Prison
with new modern facilities over the coming years.
Capital projects
The following capital projects were under way or completed during 2007:
Thornton Hall Public Private Partnership (PPP) Project
The proposed new prison at Thornton Hall, North County Dublin, is being
procured under a PPP basis.
Tenders for the design, construction, finance and maintenance of the new
prison were received in January 2007. Following a detailed evaluation
of the tenders a consortium, Leargas, comprising M. McNamara and
Company, Barclays Private Equity and GSL were selected as the preferred
tenderer. Negotiations with the preferred tenderer in relation to various
aspects of the design of the new facilities were progressed in 2007.
The new prison will comprise eight individual, practically self-contained
facilities, each with its own unique and discrete regime which will give
access to work, training, education programmes as well as recreation areas
and activities appropriate to the prison population all on a single campus.
Approval from Government was obtained to purchase an additional 8.7
acres at Thornton for the provision of a dedicated access road to serve
the prison development. The new access road will benefit the local
community by ensuing that access to the prison site during construction
and operational phases is via a separate access road.
Work on the preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
in respect of the development commenced during the year with the
appointment of Jacobs Engineering to undertake the study.
Kilworth Project
This project involves the replacement of Cork Prison with a modern prison
complex on a green field site at Kilworth, County Cork. Government
approval for the assignment of approximately 160 acres from lands owned
28

by the Department of Defence was obtained during the year.
A preliminary site suitability report was completed during the year. This
report covered a range of surveys such as archaeology, flora and fauna,
road/infrastructure, topography, etc. Further studies will be undertaken
as the project progresses.
A preliminary business case in respect of the project was completed and
approved by the Prisons Authority Interim Board. Work on the preparation
of the detailed business case is underway.
Portlaoise Prison
Construction work continued on the new C Block at Portlaoise. This will
accommodate 138 and will also include a new reception area, medical
suite, education and recreation facilities. It is due for completion in 2008.
Shelton Abbey and Loughan House
Construction of a 60 bedroom accommodation block in Loughan House
and a new education facility at the prison was completed. A heating
upgrade to the main house commenced in 2007 and will be completed
in 2008. At Shelton Abbey a new accommodation building which can
accommodate 44 offenders was also completed.
Castlerea Prison
A new remand unit which will accommodate 64 offenders was
commenced. It is due for completion in 2008. Also, the construction of 2
additional houses at The Grove was completed in 2007 and provided extra
accommodation for 12 offenders.
Limerick Prison
Construction work on a new support service block with enhanced
education facilities, gymnasium, medical, pharmacy and administration
rooms was completed in 2007.
Wheatfield Prison
A contract for a new accommodation block was awarded in 2007. The new
block will provide accommodation for 144 offenders. This new block is
expected to be completed by the end of 2008 / beginning of 2009.
Prison Maintenance Programme
An extensive programme of maintenance works was carried out in each of

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

our institutions to protect the fabric of the prison estate and to ensure the
welfare & safety of prisoners and staff.
A significant portion of the prison estate is comprised of 19th century
buildings which often require specialised and sensitive approaches to
their maintenance needs.

The IPS Training and Development Centre in partnership with the Institute
of Technology Sligo completed the first Higher Certificate Course in
Environmental Management Systems. Eleven Environmental Health &
Safety Coordinators completed the course there was also a member of An
Garda Síochána in the group.
Other Developments

Security Measures
Estates Management undertook a programme of works to facilitate the
introduction of high security search areas at the entrances to all of our
closed institutions. Works commenced in late 2007. The measures include
X-ray machines, walk through metal detectors and provision of facilities
for use of drug detection dogs at the prison entry points.
Installation of a technology based pilot scheme to inhibit the use of
mobile phones in prisons got underway in Midlands Prison in 2007.
Initial evaluations of the system were positive and it was decided
to extend the scope of the pilot scheme to cover most of the prison
complex. Works on evaluating and extending the scheme were still in
progress at the end of 2007.
Environmental Management System (EMS) Implementation
The Irish Prison Service EMS implementation strategy has been
developing under the guidance of the Executive Environmental
Management Team (EEMT) and the Environmental Manager. Some
of the key strategic objectives and developments achieved covered
infrastructure, waste management equipment, energy and resource
usage projects. There has also been significant investment in training and
awareness packages for staff and prisoners.
An IPS EMS training manual has been developed by the Environmental
Manager and Environmental Consultant with pilot prisons Loughan
House, Midlands and Portlaoise. These prisons will also pilot the EMS
ISO 14001 template for the service, which is targeted for completion and
external accredited audit by end of 2008.
Training
EMS Training has been completed in all locations. This training involves
environmental management and implementation teams from all prisons
and centres. The training covers environmental awareness, impact
assessment, procedures, recording and documenting the system.

ñ
ñ
ñ
ñ

A National Health Care Risk Waste contract is now in place covering
all medical areas of IPS.
Major recycling initiatives are underway in Arbour Hill, Castlerea,
Midlands, Mountjoy Complex, Portlaoise, Shelton and Wheatfield.
Cloverhill, Loughan, Limerick and Cork are developing their
infrastructure.
Arbour Hill won the overall prize for their waste segregation
and management facility in the Living Dublin and Dublin City
Neighbourhoods Awards. Staff there also completed a training and
awareness DVD. The DVD will be used to train staff and prisoners
throughout the service in best waste management practice.
The recycling initiatives showed significant cost savings with 30%
savings in some cases on previous years’ contractor costs. It has also
led to links with charities and community enterprise schemes, which
has encouraged staff and prisoner participation in a positive way.
A new purpose-built waste management and recycling building
was completed at Portlaoise Prison. Its heating is provided by a
sustainable wood pellet boiler. Staff there have also produced an
information booklet on environmental awareness entitled “We Can
Still Make A Difference”.
Castlerea completed a compost pilot on food waste and produced
Class 1 grade compost. This has resulted in the IPS working with
Cré, the National Compost Association, in developing an accredited
compost facility operator training course, which can be delivered to
IPS staff and prisoners.
The Environmental Policy Statement has been incorporated in the
new Thornton Hall Project by way of inclusion in call for tenders
and contractor information documentation with environmental
considerations and sustainability issues highlighted as being a
priority within the development.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

05 Finance
Apart from pay, the most significant area of expenditure is capital spending. Capital
investment has been significant in providing improved accommodation and facilities at
prisons and places of detention and enhanced officer training facilities.

Dáil Éireann voted a gross total of €397,138,000 for the Irish Prison
Service in the Prisons Vote 2007 (Vote 21).
Finance Review
The total gross expenditure by the Irish Prison Service in 2007 was
€394,550,000 some €2,588,000 within budget. Pay accounted for
approximately 63% of all spending by the Irish Prison Service in 2007.
Particulars of the 2007 Provisions and Expenditure are set out in Table 18.
Apart from pay, the most significant area of expenditure is capital
spending. Capital investment has been significant in providing improved

accommodation and facilities at prisons and places of detention and
enhanced officer training facilities. Particulars of the Prison Service 2007
building programme are given in the chapter on Estate Management. IT
developments during 2007 are covered later in this chapter.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Cost of Keeping a Prisoner
The average cost of keeping a prisoner in custody during the calendar
year 2007 was €97,700. The increase on the 2006 cost is mainly due to
National Pay Agreement increases of 2.5%, 2% and 2% with effect from 1

Irish Prison Service 2007 Expenditure and Income
Table 18: Prison Service 2007 Budget Provision and Actual Expenditure
2006
Actual Expenditure
€000

2007
Provision
€000

2007
Actual Expenditure*
€000

Administration
A.1 - Salaries, Wages and Allowances
229,819
252,724
A.2 - Travel and subsistence
2,458
2,722
A.3 – Incidental Expenses
7,982
13,124
A.4 - Postal and telecommunications services
2,427
3,330
A.5 - Office Machinery and Other Office Supplies
4,547
1,439
A.6 - Consultancy Services
185
248
A.7 – Value for Money and Policy Reviews Other Services
-
50
B - Buildings and Equipment
110,985
87,680
C - Prison Services, etc
26,300
30,421
D - Manufacturing Department and Farm
420
1,106
E – Probation Service -Services to offenders
-
52
F - Educational Services
1,474
1,631
G - Prison Officers, Medical Aid Society (Grant-in-Aid)
-
-
H - Compensation
2,105
2,111
I – Social Disadvantage Measures (Dormant Accounts Funded)
-
500

248,075
2,721
11,850
3,165
1,157
243
94,405
28,498
583
44
1,800
1,830
179

Total Gross Expenditure
J - Appropriation in Aid (Receipts)
Total Net Expenditure

388,702

397,138

394,550

1,462

22,749

22,449

387,240

374,389

372,101

* These figures are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

June 2006, 1 December 2006 and 1 June 2007 respectively. The breakdown
by Institution is shown in Table 19 below.
The cost per prisoner is based on the average daily number of offenders in
custody during 2007. The number of prisoner places is based on the number
of places in each institution at end-December 2007. The operational cost of
each institution is based on actual running costs, i.e. pay, overtime, food, light
and heat, maintenance, etc. These costs include certain fixed costs that arise
irrespective of the number of offenders in custody, e.g. staffing numbers,
utilities, etc. All headquarters and central service costs are allocated over the
prison establishments for the purpose of calculating the cost per prisoner
at each institution. Capital expenditure is excluded from the calculation in
the interest of facilitating comparison between individual institution costs,
however certain building projects under the B2 subhead ‘small works and
environmental projects’ were included, most notably at Arbour Hill, Castlerea,
Loughan House and Shelton Abbey.

Implementation of Management Information Framework (MIF) within
the Irish Prison Service
The Irish Prison Service is implementing the Management Information
Framework to bring about improved financial management and control
within the Prison Service. The intention is to have a more strategically
driven organisation that meets the demands of a modern justice system
and does so in a cost effective manner. The Irish Prison Service has
implemented many parts of MIF to date primarily relating to developing
improved accounting systems and is pressing forward with financial
training for key groups of staff.
Financial Management System
The Irish Prison Service has been operating an Oracle financial
management system since July 2002. During 2007, significant progress
was made on the project to establish up to date asset registers on the
Oracle system in respect of all IPS institutions. A timetable will be agreed
in 2008 to complete the rollout of the Oracle system within the IPS.

Table 19: Cost of Keeping a Prisoner and Cost of a Prisoner Place by Institution in 2007

Institution

Cost of Keeping an Offender (€)
2007
2006

Cost Per Prison Place (€)

2007

2006

Arbour Hill
Castlerea
Cork
Cloverhill
Limerick
Loughan House
Midlands
Mountjoy (Male)
Dóchas (Mountjoy Female)
Portlaoise
Shelton Abbey
St Patricks
Training Unit
Wheatfield

93,000
86,200
93,000
84,700
82,400
82,200
88,600
99,800
102,000
269,800
107,800
106,800
90,400
88,600

81,400
76,700
90,100
81,600
76,900
70,000
81,900
101,200
87,600
247,200
95,200
97,100
82,200
84,000

91,400
86,500
90,000
81,600
82,000
66,000
81,800
95,200
109,500
152,700
100,600
98,900
83,900
89,700

80,600
72,800
88,200
76,100
74,800
52,800
79,300
101,300
91,300
150,500
81,400
83,900
78,700
81,400

Overall Average Cost Per Prisoner

97,700

91,700

91,800

85,800

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Expenditure Reviews
The third expenditure review in the area of capital expenditure was
completed and published during 2007. A Capital Monitoring Committee
was established to oversee implementation of the recommendations
contained in the report.
Central Procurement Unit (CPU)
During 2007, the CPU procured services and goods to support the strategic
objectives of the Irish Prison Service. The CPU is responsible for modernising
and advising on procurement matters and ensuring that reporting practices
outlined in Department of Finance guidelines are implemented.

have been designed to ensure compliance with the Act, they only provide
reasonable and not absolute assurance against material non compliance
with the Act.
These procedures operate in the financial period under review and, in
the case of late payments, the relevant suppliers were notified and the
interest due was paid to them.
In accordance with the Prompt Payment of Account Act 1997, the following
information is provided in respect of the financial period ending December
31st, 2007:

The main EU and national tender competitions run by the CPU were for
the supply of food, cotton fabrics, purchase cards, construction works
framework, staff training services, catering services, taxi services,
cleaning services and security services.

(a) Payment Practices
The Irish Prison Service makes payment to suppliers in accordance with the
terms specified in the respective invoices or conditions specified in individual
contracts, if appropriate. Since 2002 the standard terms are 30 days.

The CPU liaised with the Office of Public Works and the Government
Supplies Agency in relation to aggregation of IPS supply requirements.
This resulted in supply contracts for items such as natural gas, oil, staff
uniforms, nurses’ uniforms, prisoner clothing, office supplies, personal
protective equipment, furniture, bedding, janitorial supplies and other
sundry goods. The Central Procurement Unit has a central coordinating
role in establishing the Irish Prison Service requirements for all of the
above items.

(b) Late Payments

The ongoing management of a number of contracts including food, gym
equipment, photocopiers maintenance and related contracts, was also
carried out by the CPU in 2007. This also included annual price reviews as
provided for under the various contracts.
During 2007, the CPU implemented a staff familiarisation and training
process for new staff assigned to our Clondalkin offices to facilitate the
decentralisation of the Irish Prison Service Headquarters to Longford.
This process of up-skilling has enhanced the transfer of corporate
information and procurement knowledge in the Directorate arising from
the decentralisation process.
The CPU has expanded its role and is overseeing the implementation
of reorganisation of the Prison Stores as outlined in the Proposal for
Organisational Change in the Irish Prison Service.
Payroll Functions
The Irish Prison Service payroll includes payment of basic pay, allowances
and extra attendance. The Financial Shared Services Centre of the
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform based in Killarney is
responsible for the payment functions. The Time and Attendance system
is integrated with the payroll system in the Financial Shared Services
in Killarney. This allows for automated electronic pay details transfer
between the two systems.

Invoice Amount

No. of Invoices

Amount of Interest Paid €

Under €317
Over €317

22
577

218.83
25,109.15

Total

599

25,327.98

(c) Overall percentage of late payments to total payments and total
interest paid.
The overall percentage of late payments to total payments was 1.7%.
The total amount of interest paid with respect to late payments was
€25,327.98. Arrangements are being made to ensure that invoices are
paid on time and where there are queries on invoices, suppliers are
notified as soon as possible.
Payments to members of the Prisons Authority Interim Board
The Chairman received gross remuneration of €12,000 in 2007 in respect
of his chairmanship of the Prisons Authority Interim Board. Other Board
members received gross remuneration of €7,000 in 2007 in respect
of their membership of the Interim Board. As full-time, salaried public
servants, three members of the Interim Board were not remunerated in
respect of their membership of the Interim Board.
Compensation Awards and Criminal Injuries
The total expenditure on compensation payments was €1.6m in 2007
including the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Scheme and civil
compensation cases and associated costs.

Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997
The following information is provided in accordance with the Act within the
guidelines issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal operates independently of
the Irish Prison Service. However, the Irish Prison Service funds any award
made by the Tribunal to prison officers as a result of criminal injuries
incurred in the course of their duty. The total expenditure in respect of
Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal cases in 2007 was €741,644
(€1,083,000 in 2006).

The Irish Prisons Service has procedures in place to ensure that all
invoices are paid within the statutory time limit. While the procedures

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has taken responsibility for the
management and disposal of the majority of claims initiated after 1

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

January 2001. The Irish Prison Service Claims Unit continues to manage
cases initiated before 1 January 2001 and a small number of specific types
of claims. The Irish Prison Service Claims Unit also liaises with the SCA in
relation to the management of cases handled by the SCA.

Significant progress was also achieved in 2007 in the following areas:
ñ
ñ

The total expenditure in respect of Civil Compensation Claims cases
managed by the Irish Prison Service and the SCA in 2007 was €850,000
(€862,000 in 2006). The proactive approach taken by the Irish Prison
Service Claims Unit, together with considerable assistance from local
management and the active involvement of the SCA ensured that the level
of expenditure was kept to a minimum.

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ñ
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A significant number of new IT document management systems were
put in place;
A substantial amount of new IT equipment and infrastructure
were deployed;
The Irish Prison Service IT service was successfully redeployed to the
new headquarters site in Longford;
The redesign of the IT Network is now complete and a new modern
fully robust network is being deployed;
A large voice over internet protocol (VOIP) project commenced with
the new headquarters site and a number of other sites;

Information Technology
The Irish Prison Service has made significant investment in IT to provide
the key operational systems required to run a modern Prison Service and
almost all areas of prison administration have been addressed. The Prison
Service has become a substantial IT operation with up to 3,500 users
and more than 1,500 PCs in 19 locations around the country. All parts
of the Prison Service are now connected by a wide area network which
allows the key systems to be deployed and has also greatly enhanced the
capacity of the organisation to share information.
Among the systems developed has been the Prisoner Records Information
System (PRIS). This system is operational in all prisons since 2001 and
provides a comprehensive means of recording and sharing information
about the prison population. It is intended that this system will, over
the coming years, provide a valuable source of statistical information
in relation to trends in the composition of the prison population and
will act as an aid to policy making in this area. During 2007 this system
was significantly enhanced with a new sentence calculation routine
being developed. The system is now well established and has realised
significant business benefits to the organisation over its life to date.
The Time & Attendance system which was linked to the payroll system in
Killarney during 2005, was significantly upgraded in 2007. The changes
made are working well and allow for the full range of amended attendance
arrangements and payments under the Proposal for Organisational Change.
A computerised Prisoner Medical Records System has been developed
for doctors, nurses and other medical staff working within the Irish Prison
Service. Roll-out of the system is complete and this system is in place in
all prisons for utilisation by prisons medical staff. During 2007 the system
was further enhanced which provides enriched functionality to the Irish
Prison Service medical staff.
An IT Support contract is in place to ensure business continuity and
quality service through a partially outsourced IT System support team.
This service provides high quality user support to all prison sites using
a combination of the contracted IT support team and Prison Service inhouse IT staff.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

06 The Institutions

Castlerea Prison,
Harristown, Castlerea,
Co.Roscommon.

Arbour Hill Prison
Arbour Hill, Dublin 7
Governor: Liam Dowling

Governor: Daniel Scannell

Previous Governor: Seán Quigley (January – April)

Profile
Castlerea Prison is designated as a committal prison for prisoners aged 17
years and upwards for the geographical region of Connacht and counties
Longford, Cavan and Donegal. It has a bed capacity of 228 cells.

Profile
Arbour Hill is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 18 years
and over, serving sentences of more than two years. It has a bed capacity
of 139.
Prisoner Population
The daily average number in custody was 138.

Prisoner Population
The daily average in custody was 230 prisoners. There were 1,137
prisoners committed to this prison during the year plus a significant
number of transfers from other prisons.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Cloverhill Prison
Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.

Cork Prison
Rathmore Road, Cork City, Cork.

Governor: Tom Somers

Governor: Jim Collins

Profile
Cloverhill Prison is a medium security prison mainly for male pre-trial
adults. The prison has accommodation for 432 prisoners in a combination
of single, double and triple cells.

Profile
Cork Prison is a closed, medium security committal prison for Cork, Kerry
and Waterford, for males aged seventeen and upwards, serving sentences
up to life. The prison has a bed capacity of 268.

Prisoner Population
There were a total of 4,258 persons committed to Cloverhill Prison during
the year. The average daily prisoner population was 418.

Prisoner Population
During the year a total of 1,492 prisoners were committed, or transferred,
to Cork Prison. They included some difficult and disruptive prisoners who
had been deprived privileges in other prisons. The average daily prisoner
population was 264.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Dóchas Centre
North Circular Road, Dublin 7.

Loughan House
Blacklion, Co. Cavan.

Governor: Kathleen McMahon

Governor: Catherine Comerford

Profile
The Dóchas Centre is a closed, medium security prison for women. It
is a purpose-built, modern prison with accommodation designed for
81 women in seven separate houses within the complex. With some
alterations to rooms capacity has increased to 86.

Profile
Loughan House is an open centre for convicted male offenders aged
18 years and over, who are transferred from other institutions. The bed
capacity is 105 and sleeping accommodation is mainly single and
double bedrooms.

Prisoner Profile
There were 1,113 committals and transfers to the Dóchas Centre during
the course of the year. The average daily prisoner population was 92.

Committals for 2006
A total of 559 persons were committed to Loughan House in 2007. The
average daily prisoner population was 87.

Midlands Prison
Dublin Road, Portlaoise,
Co Laois.

Limerick Prison
Mulgrave Street, Limerick.
Governor: Tadhg O’Riordan

Governor: John O’Sullivan

Profile
The prison is a closed, medium security committal prison for male and
female prisoners from age 17 and upwards. The bed capacity is 274 for
males and 20 for females. Male prisoners can be committed from courts
in counties Limerick, Tipperary and Clare only. Female prisoners can be
committed from courts in all six Munster counties.

Profile
Midlands Prison is a closed, medium security prison for males aged 18
years and over, serving sentences up to life. It is a committal prison for
sentenced adult prisoners from counties Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois,
Offaly and Westmeath. The Prison has a bed capacity of 465 places,
mainly in single cell accommodation, with a small number of triple cells.

Prisoner Profile
There were 1,269 committals during the course of the year. The average
daily prisoner population was 296.

Prisoner Population
Three hundred and thirty-four prisoners were committed to Midlands
Prison in 2007. The average daily prisoner population was 442.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Mountjoy Prison
North Circular Road, Dublin 7.

Shelton Abbey
Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Governor: John Lonergan

Governor: Seamus Cramer

Profile
Mountjoy Prison is a closed, medium security prison. It is the main
committal prison for Dublin County for males aged 18 years and over
serving sentences up to life. It is a purpose-built prison with a bed
capacity which increased from 480 at the start of the year to 540 by mid2007. Mountjoy prison is the largest penal institution in the State and has
the highest numbers of prisoners in custody.

Profile
Shelton Abbey is an open detention centre for male offenders from 19
years of age upwards.

Prisoner Population
There were 1,251 committals to Mountjoy Prison in 2006. The average
daily prisoner population was 518.

Shelton Abbey receives prisoners from closed prisons to finish their
sentences. Long-term prisoners are sent to Shelton Abbey to prepare
them for release. Sleeping accommodation is mainly in dormitories. The
bed capacity is 60.
Prisoner population
The daily average number of prisoners in custody was 55.

Portlaoise Prison
Dublin Road, Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.

St. Patrick’s Institution
North Circular Road, Dublin 7.

Governor: Edward Whelan

Governor: Seán Quigley

Previous Governor: John Dooley (retired March 2007)

Previous Governor: Seán Lennon (January – April)

Profile
Portlaoise Prison is a high security, closed prison for males aged 18
years and over. The Prison has a bed capacity of 198 but operates below
capacity for security and operational reasons.

Profile
St. Patrick’s Institution is a closed, medium security place of detention for
males aged 16 to 21 years of age. It has a bed capacity of 216.

Prisoner Population
In 2007, the average number of prisoners in Portlaoise Prison was 117,
with 22 committals to the prison in the year.
Some prisoners were committed for subversive type offences. The prison
also accommodates prisoners convicted of offences relating to organised
crime who have been committed directly to the prison, or have been
committed elsewhere but due to security considerations have been
transferred to Portlaoise Prison.

Prisoner Profile
There were 756 persons committed to the Institution during the course of
the year. The average daily prisoner population was 197.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Irish Prison Service Building
Services Division (BSD)
Unit 2, Airways Industrial Estate,
Cloghran, Dublin 17.

Training Unit
Glengariff Parade, Dublin 7.
Governor: John O’Brien

Governor: George Victory

Profile
The Training Unit is a semi-open, low security prison for males aged 18
years and over, serving sentences up to life. Long sentence prisoners
are normally nearing the end of their sentence. The prison has
accommodation for 96 prisoners in single rooms.

Building Services Division is the technical support section of the Irish
Prison Service. It assists all prisons to manage within their allocated
budgets by careful preparation of specifications, energy management and
compliance with all procurement procedures. It also provides technical
advice on building projects including capital works to all stake-holders;
enhances, researches and develops existing and new systems for the cost
effective and reliant technical advancement of the Irish Prison Service;
and through the High Security Locking Section provides the design,
supply, installation and maintenance of all locking systems throughout
the Irish Prison Service.

Prisoner Population
One hundred and seventy-seven prisoners were transferred to the Training
Unit in 2007. The average daily prisoner population was 91.

Irish Prison Service Training
and Development Centre
(IPSTDC)
Beladd House, Dublin Road,
Portlaoise, Co Laois.

Wheatfield Prison
Cloverhill Road, Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Previous Governor: Seán Lennon

Governor: Joe McDermott

Previous Governor: Edward Whelan (January – April)

The IPSTDC role is to support the achievement of corporate and business
plan objectives by implementing training and development services and
resources to meet the service’s needs and training priorities and the
agreed needs of staff. This includes developing and implementing training
and development policy and strategy, setting the vision for training and
development for the future and continually evaluating the standard and
quality of training delivery and administration.

Profile
Closed medium security committal prison for male offenders aged 18 and
over on remand and serving sentences up to life. It is the committal prison
for Wicklow, Wexford, Louth, Meath and Monaghan court areas. The bed
capacity is 374.
Prisoner Population
There were 292 committals to Wheatfield Prison in 2007. The average
daily prisoner population was 376.

A total of 265 recruit prison officers (RPOs) and 9 nurse officers
commenced training at the IPSTDC in 2007. Of the RPOs 119 completed
the 9-week induction training programme, and from September 2007,
146 commenced semester 1 of the Higher Certificate in Custodial Care
(HCCC) programme.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Prison Service Escort Corps
(PSEC)
Cloverhill Prison, Cloverhill Road,
Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Governor: Sylvester Salley
PSEC is a co-ordinated prisoner escort system operated by prison officers
within the Prison Service. The corps was set up towards the end of 2005.
There is a staffing complement of 156 and a fleet of 52 specialised cellular
and 19 non-cellular vehicles.
The main business of the service is providing escorts to and from all
Dublin City courts, all country circuit courts and productions to district
courts, but it also covers inter-prison and hospital escorts. The level of
coverage provided by the PSEC for court escorts now stands at 93.8%.
Court Escorts Covered by PSEC from January 2007 to December 2007

2007
Court
PSEC Escorted
% PSEC Escorted

Total

21,230

19,908

93.8

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

07 Appendices

Appendix 1 : All Committals to prisons and places of detention in 2007
Table 20: Committals to Prison, 2000 - 2007
Year

Number
Change
% change

2000

11,626
---
---

2001

12,127
501
4.3%

2002

11,860
-267
-2.2%

2003

11,775
-85
-0.7%

2004

10,657
-1,118
-9.5%

2005

10,658
1
0.0%

2006

2007

12,157
1,499
14.1%

11,934
-223
-1.8%

Note: Total committals during the year (not persons). Committals are new entries during the year or re-entries following a period out of prison. For any
one year, committals on sentence are excluded if the person was already on remand in custody
Table 21: Committals to Prison 2007 classified by type of committal and gender
Committal Type

Female

Male

Total

Sentenced
Remand
Immigration
Indefinite Contempt Of Court

435
535
386
0

7.6
10.8
30.9
0.0

5,280
4,432
863
3

92.4
89.2
69.1
100.0

5,715
4,967
1,249
3

47.9
41.6
10.5
0.0

Total

1,356

11.4

10,578

88.6

11,934

100.0

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1,059
975
1,116
912
1,011
1,104
1,120
675
885
1,120
1,073
884

Total

11,934

Average

995

Table 22: Committals by month in 2007

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Persons Commited to Prisons and Places of Detention
Table 23: Committals by month in 2007
Year

NNumber
Change
% change

2001

9,539
---
---

2002

9,716
177
1.9%

2003

9,814
98
1.0%

2004

8,820
-994
-10.1%

2005

2006

2007

8,686
-134
-1.5%

9,700
1,014
11.7%

9,711
11
0.1%

Figures relate to persons newly committed to prison (i.e. not already on remand or serving another sentence)

Table 24: Age and gender of persons committed in 2007
Age (years)

Female

Male

Total

15
16
17
18 - ‹21
21 - ‹25
25 - ‹30
30 - ‹40
40 - ‹50
50+

0
0
5
142
216
265
355
133
39

1
100
141
1,164
1,831
1,835
2,171
949
364

1
100
146
1,306
2,047
2,100
2,526
1,082
403

0.0
1.0
1.5
13.4
21.1
21.6
26.0
11.1
4.1

Total

1,155

8,556

9,711

100.0

11.9

88.1

100.0

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Table 25: Debtor/Fine defaulters
Type

Female

Male

Total

Debtor
Fine Sentence

19
163

10.4
89.6

182
1,172

13.4
86.6

201
1,335

13.1
86.9

Total

182

100.0

1,354

100

1,536

100

Table 26: Numbers in Custody by month in 2007 (on 15th of each month or nearest working day)
Prison

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Mean

Arbour Hill
Castlerea
Cloverhill
Cork
Limerick (f )
Limerick (m)
Loughan
Midlands
Mountjoy (f )
Mountjoy (m)
Portlaoise
Shelton Abbey
St Patrick’s
Training Unit
Wheatfield

139
224
414
256
18
268
66
436
112
452
118
55
193
88
377

139
232
390
270
20
269
101
433
103
486
116
57
203
92
374

138
230
395
272
15
281
97
438
97
495
117
58
189
95
383

139
231
443
251
21
280
83
434
97
503
117
53
186
91
383

138
235
422
262
17
283
96
437
94
534
116
57
193
91
384

139
241
429
272
15
290
99
446
102
533
113
49
203
92
375

138
227
442
265
19
295
94
448
84
555
116
54
196
96
381

139
228
418
250
16
280
96
444
88
529
124
59
199
83
373

139
207
407
260
21
279
85
445
91
512
121
55
202
80
375

139
222
457
258
21
268
70
446
83
526
119
56
196
82
362

139
233
444
278
17
288
77
448
93
551
114
60
208
94
376

139
244
406
266
22
278
86
452
90
558
118
56
183
90
372

139
230
422
263
19
280
88
442
95
520
117
56
196
90
376

Totals

3,216 3,285 3,300 3,312 3,359 3,398 3,410 3,326 3,279 3,305 3,420 3,360 3,331

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Appendix 2 : Statistics on prison population on 5 December 2007
Table 27: Persons in Custody under Sentence on 5 December 2007 - Offences classified by Age

18 - ‹ 21

21 - ‹ 25

25 - ‹ 30

30 - ‹ 40

40 - ‹ 50 50+

Total

Murder
Manslaughter
Sexual Offences
Other Offences against the person
Offences against property with violence
Offences against property without violence
Drug Offences
Road Traffic Offences
Other Offences

0
0
0
2
0
4
1
3
0

0
0
0
3
0
8
0
5
5

3
7
8
83
7
95
29
35
30

20
18
13
113
14
190
71
50
61

38
13
35
92
14
166
127
48
79

75
30
33
72
36
171
166
34
76

55
9
63
32
12
50
55
10
28

37
7
85
8
3
12
23
5
19

228
84
237
405
86
696
472
190
298

Total

297

550

612

693

314

199

2696

Male

Total

Table 28: Offence Profile of Prisoners in custody under sentence on 5 December 2007
Group 1: Offences against the Person

Female

Murder
Manslaughter
Sexual Offences
Other Offences against the Person

5
4
0
8

223
80
237
397

228
84
237
405

Total Group 1

937

954

Group 2: Offences against Property with violence

Group 3: Offences against Property without violence

697

696

Group 4: Other Offences

Drug Offences
Road Traffic Offences
Other Offences

23
1
8

449
189
290

472
190
298

Total Group 4

928

960

Total

2,630

2,696

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007

Table 29: Persons in Custody under Sentence on 5 December 2007 - Offences classified by sentence length

‹ 3
3 - ‹ 6
6 - ‹ 12
1 - ‹ 2
2-‹3
3 - ‹ 5

mths
mths
mths
yrs
yrs
yrs

5 - ‹ 10
yrs

10+
yrs

Life

Total

0
0
0
1
0
9
6
6
35

0
0
0
18
1
37
2
39
29

0
0
2
40
1
103
28
42
59

0
1
18
77
0
129
38
47
42

0
1
14
69
9
116
47
24
13

0
5
38
99
20
169
103
24
58

0
49
97
80
30
122
188
8
57

4*
26
59
18
25
10
60
0
5

224
2
9
3
0
1
0
0
0

228
84
237
405
86
696
472
190
298

Total

126

275

352

293

516

631

207

239

2,696

4* = 4 people received 40-year sentences for ‘Capital Murder’.

Table 30: Debtors and Default of Fine in custody on 5 December 2007
Debtor/Fines

Female

Male

Total

Debtor
Fine Sentence

0
0

5
11

Total

Appendix 3: Counting rules and recording practice
The statistical tables in this annual report were compiled on the basis of
the following counting rules and recording practices
Counting of committals
Where a person is committed on more than one separate occasion during
the year, he/she is counted once for each reception. However, where an
offender currently serving a sentence receives a further prison sentence,
this is not counted as a separate reception.
Recording of offences
In the case of an individual committed under sentence for more than one
offence, only the principal offence is recorded in the tables. The offence
selected as the principal offence is that for which the heaviest sentence
is imposed.
Age of offenders
The age of offender in the tables is recorded as the offender’s age at date
of committal.

Guide to table headings
In tables relating to age, the age range is indicated as 16, 17, 18 less than
21, 21 less than 25, etc, The convention used is that, for example, ’18 less
than 21’ means aged from 18 years and no days up to and including 20
years and 364 days old.
In the case of tables referring to sentence length e.g., 3 months - ‹6 months,
1 year - ‹2 years, the convention used is that ‘3 months - ‹ months’ means
a sentence 90 days up to and including a sentence of one day less than 6
calendar months, ‘1 year - ‹2 years’ means a sentence from one calendar year
up to and including a sentence of one day less than two calendar years.
Offence classifications
This report classifies 1,400 offences in four groups, i.e. offences against
the person, offences against property with violence, offences against
property without violence and other offences. Particulars of offences
included in each group are available from the Corporate Services
Directorate, Irish Prison Service, Ballinalee Road, Longford.
E-mail: info@irishprisons.ie.

IRISH PRISON SERVICE Annual Report 2007