Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prison Conditions.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

14 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to the recent warning issued by the Prison Officers' Association that they will initiate industrial action next year if prison conditions are not substantially improved for both inmates and staff; if his attention has been drawn to the particular concern expressed by both prison staff and prisoners about the lack of in-cell toilet facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. N. Treacy

I am aware of the statement made by the Prison Officers' Association and when the Minister for Justice met them on 10 December last, prior to announcing his law enforcement package for 1991, he informed them of his plans for the general improvement of prison accommodation.

In the current year our Department will spend in the region of £8 million on building and maintenance in prisons.

Sums of this magnitude have, in fact, been expended on such works year-in year-out over a number of years. While part of this expenditure has arisen from the need to upgrade certain security featues in prisons, a considerable amount of it has also been directed towards the general improvement of physical conditions.

The specific improvement referred to by the Prison Officers' Association, and now by the Deputy, is the provision of in-cell toilet facilities. The Minister for Justice dealt with this matter in announcing the 1991 law enforcement package. For the purpose of dealing with the Deputy's question, it would perhaps be best to quote from the statement issued at the time by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Deputy Burke. He said:

The provision of in-cell sanitation in all prisons has understandably been the subject of long standing demand from various sources. Technical advice in the past was generally to the effect that it would be next to impossible to provide it in older institutions. At my request, the whole matter has been examined afresh and I am glad to say that due to technological advances, it is now possible to make progress in this regard. I am pleased to announce the following: (1) All new prison accommodation being planned includes the provision of in-cell sanitation.

Mr. McCartan

Big deal.

Mr. N. Treacy

The Minister continued:

(2) the new unit in Mountjoy Prison for offenders with infectious diseases who need specialist care includes provision for in-cell sanitation and construction of this unit will proceed in 1991; (3) plans for a replacement block in Limerick Prison includes in-cell sanitation; (4) in-cell sanitation will now be provided as part of the total refurbishment of St. Patrick's Institution and Mountjoy's Women's Prison; (5) Wheatfield and Fort Michel already have this facility; 24-hour access to toilets is provided in open centres and the training unit; (6) between work completed and now planned, about 40% of offenders will have 24-hour access to toilets within about two years — this will represent a major advance on the situation which applied in the past. I am now examining the possibilities for further progress in this regard.

Mr. McCartan

May I ask the Minister of State whether the Minister's meeting with the Prison Officers' Association on 10 December 1990 succeeded in lifting the threat issued by the association of industrial action in the coming year and whether it is intended to continue meeting with them to liaise on this important issue? Secondly, would he not consider it desirable to set a time schedule now for the introduction of in-cell toilet facilities for all prisoners in the State in a set period as happened in the United Kingdom? There they have set a period of seven years and in Scotland they set a period of three years. We should show that we are serious in our attempt to end the filthy Victorian habits of asking grown adults to stand in long queues with buckets of slop as they move to the one receptacle to dispose of it in the morning and evening.

Mr. N. Treacy

I am quite confident that the meeting between the Minister for Justice and the Prison Officers' Association was a very positive one and I do not anticipate any difficulties as a result of same. The Prison Officers' Association have a key role to play in the administration of our prison services and, of course, there will be constant liaison with them. The Deputy has quoted commitments given by other countries. I want to reaffirm our commitment that over the next two years we will be in line with the standards which we all desire and to which we all aspire.

Mr. McCartan

Is the Minister of State saying that within two years all prisoners in the State — the vast majority of male adult prisoners are housed in Mountjoy and Arbour Hill — will enjoy this basic facility?

Mr. N. Treacy

I quoted from the Minister's statement in which he said that over the next two years about 40 per cent will have this facility. It is our goal to achieve it right across the board.

Mr. McCartan

Within what period?

Mr. N. Treacy

We are committed to it and we have always honoured our commitments.

An Ceann Comhairle

Question No. 15 please.