asked the Minister for Justice if he will supply the following information with regard to the building and civil engieering projects for which he is responsible and which have an estimated final cost in excess of £100,000 and which, having been brought to tender stage in the past five years, have been postponed for longer than one year and which are still postponed: (1) the title of each project; (2) a description of each project; (3) the estimated final cost of each project; (4) the names of the design team consultants and the amount paid to date in fees to each of the design team consultants; and (5) the reason for the postponement of each project and the prospects for the future completion of each project.
Written Answers. - Building and Civil Engineering Projects.
366.
Limerick East): In the capital programme for prisons and places of detention, two projects brought to tender stage within the last five years were postponed. They are the construction of a new prison affording a high degree of security near the present prison in Portlaoise — planned as an additional prison not a replacement for the existing one — and the construction of the custodial buildings of a prison to accommodate women at Wheatfield, Clondalkin, County Dublin.
They have not proceeded further than tender stage because of the financial constraints which have operated since 1981. When financial resources become available it may be necessary to have a fresh look at each of the projects with a view to seeing how it measures up to the needs of the situation as it will then be in the light of all the circumstances.
It is not the practice for security reasons to reveal the names of consultants employed. A total of £2.17 million has been paid in fees on the new prison at Portlaoise and £1.67 million on the prison in Wheatfield. As tenders have not yet been sought, it would be contrary to established practice to disclose estimated projections of costs.