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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Mar 1995

Vol. 450 No. 6

Written Answers. - New Prisons.

John O'Leary

Question:

33 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to build new prisons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5286/95]

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

46 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to provide more places of detention for young offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5388/95]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 46 together.

I am proceeding with plans to provide two new prisons — one located on the site of St. Patrick's Hospital, Castlerea, County Roscommon, to accommodate 150 adult male offenders and the other on the Cowley Place site, adjoining Mountjoy Prison, to accommodate 60 female offenders.

In the case of Castlerea Prison, construction of the perimeter wall and associated works is underway and is due for completion by the mildle of the year. Construction of the main prison complex is due to commence later this year and is expected to be completed in a period of about 18 months. Planning of the new women's prison is at an advanced stage. It is proposed to commence construction later this year with completion likely early in 1997.
In addition to the provision of two new prisons, I am proceeding with a major programme for the refurbishment and upgrading of the existing stock of prison buildings. It is estimated that about £55 million will be expended on improvement works in these prisons over the period 1995 to 1999 inclusive — £10 million has been provided for this work in the current year. In my view, this refurbishment programme deserves the same priority as the provision of new prison spaces.
In regard to accommodation for young offenders my responsibility extends to those between the ages of 16 and 21 years. Responsibility for the offenders under 16 years of age rests with my colleague the Minister for Education. The appointment of Deputy Austin Currie as Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Health and Education is a recognition by the Government of the need to co-ordinate services for young offenders between these three Departments.
The priority for those between 16 and 21 is to make better use of the prison accommodation already available for them and to implement the positive sentence management strategy set out in the Department's policy document "The Management of Offenders — A Five Year Plan" published last June. I am satisfied that a determined implementation of these measures such as intensive probation supervision in the community and other interventions of this type by the Probation Service will be more effective than providing more prison spaces for young offenders. Experience right across Europe tends to support this view.
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