The families of Irish people in prisons overseas should be provided with a "visitation allowance" to allow them maintain contact during jail terms, a Catholic Church group has said.
The Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas said the Government should fund this allowance "in order to ease the financial burden of imprisonment on families". More than 1,200 Irish people are in overseas prisons, according to the group which celebrates its 20th anniversary with a conference in Dublin today.
Research commissioned to mark the occasion identified difficulties families had in financing visits and meeting the cost of basic prison supplies such as food, clothing, stamps and phone cards.
"The lack of clear information and legal support services emerged as a significant problem for families struggling with a foreign legal and prison system."
In addition, "families were concerned about the lack of any post-release support services available for their relative on release from prison". Some 93 per cent of the families surveyed said they were satisfied with the service they received from the commission.
The group, part of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants, called for the establishment of a family support group, and an annual "family day" aimed at taking "some of the pressure" off families and children.
Former minister for state Chris Flood, who was appointed by the Government last month to carry out a study into the needs of prisoners abroad, will attend the conference.
