Prison visits by children to see parents plummets

While 11,079 children physically visited an adult in prison last year, so far in 2021, the comparable figure is 2,238 children.

The number of children who have visited a parent in prison this year has plummeted to just a fraction of the figure for last year.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed in a response to a parliamentary question by Right to Change TD Joan Collins that while 11,079 children physically visited an adult in prison last year, so far in 2021 the comparable figure is 2,238 children.

Physical visits to prisons were suspended for some of 2020 and following the fresh wave of Covid-19 cases a year ago, were suspended again on December 23 last, remaining so until July of this year when they were restored on a phased basis in line with the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

In her response Ms McEntee said: "The Prison Service is acutely aware of the importance of assisting prisoners to maintain close contact with family and friends while in custody. Families and friends play an important and supportive role in the rehabilitation of prisoners and in their preparation for life in the community post-release.

The minister said the video visit system installed during the periods when physical visiting was not permitted had proven successful and would continued to be offered by the Irish Prison Service as an additional means of family support.

The issue of prison visits was also referenced by the director-general of the Irish Prison Service, Caron McCaffrey, in a piece she wrote for Eolas magazine.

Ms McCaffrey referenced the introduction of virtual family visits and the introduction of in-cell telephony to permit contact from family and prison services.

"As a service, we were at all times very conscious of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on prisoners and I must acknowledge their understanding of the actions we have taken on their behalf," she said. 

"We were always conscious of the impact the restrictions had on them and on their mental health. We continued to maintain the provision of psychology, chaplaincy, and addiction services throughout the pandemic through the provision of a dedicated call facility and the use of video-link. When possible, we reinstated face-to-face services across the estate as restrictions were reduced."