CPT – Visit to Republic of Ireland

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The CPT mention in the report that:

  • All juveniles were offered a wide range of structured activities; the intensive nature of the school classes and the emphasis on physical education were positive. Efforts should be made to increase the number of vocational places on offer
  • Midland Prison did lock up inmates 23h a day. The Governor of Midlands Prison explained that this was due to the limited availability of staff to ensure the safety of prisoners; he also explained that the management wanted to discourage prisoners from asking for protection and that it did not want to dis-incentivise other prisoners who made an effort to participate in education and activities by giving the prisoners on protection the same privileges
  • Castlerea Prison: The prisoners were allowed out of their cells for some seven hours a day but they were not engaged in any occupational therapy or educational activities.
  • Portlaoise Prison: There were no educational or other purposeful activities in place.
  • Limerick Prison: Access to other educational and vocational activities was often problematic, as it had to be coordinated with the timetable of male prisoners