Just 16% of sex offenders released from Irish prisons go through treatment programmes

Of the 136 sex offenders to be released this year from Irish prisons only 22 will have gone through a dedicated treatment programme for sex offenders.

That is according to figures released by the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald which show the 22 sex offenders taking the Building Better Lives Programme at Arbour Hill prison being released this year is a drop of 24% on the 29 sex offenders released in 2014 who completed the programme.

Last year, 136 sex offenders were released from Irish jails with 20% of those offenders sitting the programme — with the rate of released sex offenders who have completed the course down to 16% this year.

Ms Fitzgerald released the information in response to a written Dáil question by TD Denis Naughten and yesterday he said the poor numbers completing the course increases the risk to communities across the country of the released sex offenders re-offending.

He said: “If you don’t participate in these programmes, you shouldn’t be eligible for early release where you can get 25% off your time in jail.”

Mr Naughten said: “You can’t force someone to do a course, but there needs to be an incentive built in to sit these courses and this will require a change in the law. This view of the need to incentivise offenders doing the treatment programme has been expressed by the Department of Justice in the past but nothing has been done about it.”

The deputy said “the low numbers taking up the programme is a source of concern and the big question is why are there such low numbers taking the course. We need to take urgent steps to ensure that these numbers increase dramatically”.

He said: “My understanding is that the low numbers is due to lack of demand for the course rather than capacity.”

TD Denis Naughten

Mr Naughten said the law relating to post-release conditions for sex offenders “is not fit for purpose”.

The TD described the sex offenders register as “an absolute joke” and claimed gardaí are operating with their hands tied behind their backs in monitoring sex offenders on their release.

In her written Dáil response, Ms Fitzgerald noted: “The Irish Prison Service is currently in the process of expanding the Building Better Lives programme to the Midlands campus which accommodates a significant number of sexual offenders.

“This will allow for enhanced screening processes with this population, and the establishment of the components of the Building Better Lives Programme.”

She said: “Offenders not recorded in the Building Better Lives Programme may be involved with other agencies such as the probation service, addiction services, or the psychiatric services.

Ms Fitzgerald said: “In addition, I should emphasise that sexual offenders released from prison who are subject to notification requirements under the Sex Offenders Act 2001 are required to notify the gardaí of any change in their home address.”

She said: “The Irish Prison Service works closely with the Probation Service at all times to ensure that assessment, intervention, and risk management are provided to the largest possible number of sex offenders.”