Prison Visiting Committees

< Independent Prison Monitoring < Prison Visiting Committees

Prison Visiting Committees are made up of individuals from across society.

They visit the prison to which they are appointed and hear any complaints made to them by a prisoner. They look at the quality of the prison accommodation and the facilities and services available to the prisoners there.

Each committee gives the Minister a report every year on their findings. These are published on the department’s website.

Appointments to Prison Visiting Committees are made by the Minister for Justice.

Each appointment to a visiting committee is for a period of three years.

Committee members are not paid a fee but receive expenses of €142.50 per day per prison visited and vouched travel expenses of up to €30.

In the current Programme for Government, there is a commitment to review the existing functions, powers, appointment procedures and reporting processes for Prison Visiting committees, with a view to modernising and improving their administration and oversight. This review has commenced in the department.