AQW 49944/22-27

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 30/06/2026
Answered On Date: 07/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice to detail any steps the Prison Service takes to protect staff and prisoners during extreme heat periods.

Answer:

The Northern Ireland Prison Service has a duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of both staff and prisoners.

During periods of extreme heat, prison establishments implement a range of proportionate measures, based on local operational circumstances and dynamic risk assessment, including maximising ventilation, reviewing work and physical activities, providing advice to staff and prisoners on maintaining hydration, and ensuring those individuals more vulnerable to the effects of heat have appropriate access to healthcare where required.

All heating systems are fully deactivated, and the site's summer ventilation settings have been successfully invoked and are operating as designed.

The Northern Ireland Prison Service continues to keep arrangements under review and will implement additional measures where necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of staff and prisoners during periods of exceptionally hot weather.