asked the Minister for Justice if the materials which are used as bedding in cells in Garda stations and prisons and in padded cells within prisons meet the appropriate fire regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Bedding Materials
8.
(Limerick East): If the Deputy is aware of regulations that relate to this matter, I should be glad if he could refer me to them. The greatest source of danger arising from deliberate or accidental fire in a cell, here and abroad, has been fumes from burning mattresses. My Department have been seeking specifications for a safer mattress and after prolonged tests by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards specifications were prepared and contracts placed. The mattresses are now being delivered.
The Minister has invited me to submit to him details of regulations that relate to this matter but, unless I misunderstood him, he contradicted that towards the end of his reply. I have a statement from the IIRS pointing out that there are existing standards in this regard but they point out also that the materials required for the high standards involved are much more expensive than the normal materials used. I am asking this question as a result of a death that occurred in Limerick Prison and which was caused by fumes from burning bedding materials in the cell. May I take it that the provision of higher standards of materials in bedding for prisons is in the process of being implemented?
(Limerick East): There is no contradiction in my reply. The Deputy asked if the materials used meet the appropriate fire regulations but I do not know what he is referring to. I am not aware that there are appropriate fire regulations relating to this matter. I said that in the consideration of the provision of new mattresses the question of the standard had been referred to the IIRS and that on their advice contracts were placed. The mattresses are now being delivered. These do not emit the fumes of the kind to which the Deputy referred. I am aware also of the incident in Limerick Prison but that happened in 1980.