asked the Minister for Finance the proposals he has to improve the facilities at the Bridewell Garda Station, Dublin, which have recently been described as primitive and overcrowded, to cater for the needs of gardaí and both male and female prisoners, including those with infectious diseases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bridewell (Dublin) Garda Station.
3.
The Department of Justice approved on 24 April 1986 details of actual works to a prototype cell at the Bridewell undertaken by the Office of Public Works at the Department's behest.
The way is now clear for the Office of Public Works to undertake a major cell block refurbishment scheme on the same lines as the prototype and the Department's instructions, including source of funding are awaited.
I am very glad to note there has been some reaction to the protests about conditions at the Bridewell. Could the Minister of State tell us what kind of improvements are planned? I know there is a serious problem obtaining there at present in relation to the separation of prisoners, and the difficulties vis-á-vis prisoners with AIDS and other problems. What is planned?
As the Deputy is probably aware, the Office of Public Works act on an agency basis only for Departments, in this instance, the Department of Justice. We await full instructions as to what the Department of Justice require. I agree with the Deputy that the environment at the Bridewell is one of overcrowding, violent tensions, of difficulties on both sides and fears in relation to infection from AIDS and indeed hepatitis B. Management of the Bridewell, including questions of overcrowding, public health operational policy and others are matters for the Department of Justice, the Garda Commissioner and local Garda management.
Representatives of the Department of Justice, the Garda Commissioner's Office and the Office of Public Works met at the Bridewell on 25 September 1985. The Department of Justice representative instructed the Office of Public Works to undertake works which included door lighting, ventilation, heating, sanitation, and so on, on a particular cell which would be a prototype for a major cell block refurbishment scheme. The Bridewell houses a total of 20 cells. This intimation, on 25 September last, was the first from the Department of Justice to my office that the Department required a major cell block refurbishment. Five subsequent meetings have been held throughout past months to ensure conformity with details in respect of the prototype cell and other matters in relation to the Department of Justice instructions.
In view of the fact that this Garda station, and Garda stations generally are drab places for those who work in them and those who visit them in one capacity or another, would the Minister see any advantage in entering into discussions with her colleagues in the Department of Labour to ascertain if the provisions of the employment incentive scheme, or of other such schemes, might be utilised at this station and in Garda stations generally?
That is a separate question. I must reiterate what I said, that the role of the Office of Public Works in relation to all of these jobs is one of an agent. We undertake work for other Departments, in this case, the Department of Justice. As such, I am not in a position to reply specifically to the Deputy's separate question.
Could the Minister tell us when her Department received the instructions?
That is the same line of questioning.
When did her Department, acting as agent, receive instructions, or when was the request sent to her Department to do this work? My question was originally down to the Minister for Justice.
As I said at the outset, in relation to the major cell block refurbishment issue, which I presume is the one to which the Deputy is alluding, we are still awaiting instructions from the Department of Justice. A prototype cell is planned and will be going ahead, but on the major cell refurbishment, which I think is the one of interest to the Deputy, we await instructions from the Department of Justice.
To clarify one point, matters such as the provision of towels are part of the problem and also adequate hygiene. Would that not be a matter for the Department of Justice, where the two areas override? My question was switched to the Office of Public Works.
I think that the matter of the provision of towels for the Bride— well is one for the Office of Public Works.
In the short term, this was one of the problems and action was to be taken immediately. It did not seem a matter for long term Department of Finance provisions.
I would be inclined to agree with that, but as of now the Office of Public Works are undertaking the refurbishment of the prototype cell on which the major refurbishment of the cell block will be based.