Update: Absconded Prisoners – Justice & Equality 24th September, 2014

QUESTION NO:  114
DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Ms. Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Bernard J. Durkan
for WRITTEN on Wednesday, 24th September, 2014. 

 *  To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which prisoners have absconded from the prison service in each of the past five years to date; the number recaptured; the number currently still at large; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                           – Bernard J. Durkan
 
REPLY.
I can inform the Deputy that the number of prisoners deemed to have absconded from the custody of the Irish Prison Service in each of the past five years to date is set out in the table below:

Year                                    Number of Absconders
2009                                   133
2010                                   112
2011                                    86
2012                                    63
2013                                   18
2014                                   7

As on 22 September 2014, Irish Prison Service records indicate that of the 419 persons who absconded during this time period, 32  remain unlawfully at large.

Gardaí  are informed when prisoners abscond and they have the power to detain, arrest, and return such persons to prison.  Experience has shown that the vast majority of offenders who abscond return voluntarily or are returned to custody to complete their sentences within a short time frame.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that in October 2012, the Director General of the Irish Prison Service established a project team to examine how the Irish Prison Service might reduce the number of prisoners who are unlawfully at large from custody.  The project team has worked closely with An Garda Síochána and the Department of Social Protection and its work has led to the re-committal of a number of prisoners who had absconded from custody. This project is ongoing.