John Ellis
Question:378 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice the current position regarding the provision of a new women's prison. [19218/95]
Written Answers. - Prison Accommodation.
Ivor Callely
Question:413 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the recommendation of the prison accommodation report she recently received; the measures, if any, she proposes to take to address the issue of the need for additional detention places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1272/96]
Tony Killeen
Question:414 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to provide a women's prison; if so, when such a facility will be available to accommodate offenders. [1284/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 378, 413 and 414 together.
The Government decided to defer the provision of Castlerea Prison and to defer beyond 1996 the new women's prison. This decision was taken in June 1995 in the context of a comprehensive review of budget proposals for 1996, conducted at that time.
I am currently reviewing the whole question of prison accomodation needs for both male and female offenders and I will, in due course, place any proposals I may have, arising from this review, before the Government for consideration. With respect to the interim report which I received some weeks ago from the interdepartmental committee set up last June and which was due to report to me by December 1995, the contents of that report have been taken into consideration in the preparation of my proposals which I am finalising at the moment.