Vol. 461 No. 8
12 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice when construction of the prison at Castlerea, County Roscommon, will recommence; the number of prison places which will be provided there; the likely completion date; the likely completion date of Mountjoy Women's Prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3894/96]
As I announced recently, the development of the Castlerea Prison project will have two dimensions.
Firstly, I propose to construct a special secure unit to house 25 offenders. Work on this project commenced immediately after the Government decision of 30 January 1996. Design work is already at a very advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to invite tenders for this work very shortly. This additional accommodation will become available in the summer of this year.
The original plan for the main prison at Castlerea envisaged significant dependence on the provision of new purpose-designed buildings, together with the use of the existing hospital buildings. I have directed that a review of these plans be undertaken with a view to maximising the use of the hospital buildings and confining new buildings largely to cellular accommodation. The existing hospital buildings are not deemed suitable for adaptation to provide cellular accommodation.
Planning and design work for this proposed facility is under way. While I am unable, at this stage, to confirm the number of places to be provided, I can say that the overall number will be of the approximate order envisaged in the original plan.
With regard to the new women's prison, arrangements for the resumption of planning and design work have already been made and it is my intention to have construction work started as early as feasible. It is not possible to put a completion date on the projects at this stage.
