REPUBLICAN and loyalist politicians have criticised as inadequate changes to prisoners leave arrangements. The British government is increasing home leave from seven to 10 days for inmates who have served 11 years or more.
There will also be an increase in parole for prisoners serving fixed term sentences and fortnightly home leave for "lifers" recommended for release by the Life Sentence Review Board.
The chief executive of the Northern Ireland prison service, Mr Alan Shannon, said: "The changes are fully consistent with the main goals of the prison service, which include maintaining prisoners' links with their families and helping them to prepare for release.
"The new arrangements will contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners and will assist them in their return to the community."
Sinn Fein's prisons spokesman, Mr Joe Austin, said the changes did not go far enough. "The occasional tinkering with and minimalist approach to prison issues reinforces the notion that the British government is not seriously interested in the reconstruction of the peace process," he said.
The Ulster Democratic Party said the changes were far too modest and that the absence of an IRA ceasefire had prevented the British from going further.