Vol. 463 No. 6
16 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for Justice the current number of detention places in our jail system; if she will give a breakdown of this figure by individual jails; the total current number of prisoners; and if she will give a breakdown of this figure by location, gender and principal offence. [7094/96]
There is a total of 2,209 detention spaces within the 12 prisons/places of detention through the country. The total number of persons in custody today is 2,201. The breakdown of the number of places and prisoners in custody, by gender and institution is as follows:
|
Intended Capacity |
Number in Custody |
|
|
Mountjoy Prison, Nth. Circular Road, Dublin 7 |
556 males |
617 |
|
and |
||
|
40 females |
41 |
|
|
Limerick Prison, Mulgrave Steeet, Limerick |
120 males |
130 |
|
and |
||
|
12 females |
12 |
|
|
Cork Prison, Rathmore Road, Cork |
244 males |
270 |
|
Arbour Hill Prison, Dublin 7 |
130 males |
130 |
|
Portlaoise Prison, Dublin Road, Portlaoise |
207 males |
143 |
|
Training Unit, Glengarriff Parade, Dublin 7 |
89 males |
80 |
|
Shelton Abbey, Arklow, County Wicklow |
56 males |
48 |
|
St. Patrick's Institution, Nth. Circular Road, Dublin 7 |
188 males |
190 |
|
Shanganagh Castle, Shankill, County Dublin |
60 males |
54 |
|
Loughan House, Blacklion, County Cavan |
85 males |
68 |
|
Fort Mitchel, Spike Island, Cobh, County Cork |
102 males |
102 |
|
Place of Detention, Wheatfield, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 |
320 males |
316 |
It should be explained that the figures I have quoted for "intended" capacity do not take account of the fact that various forms of segregation of offenders may be required in the interests of the proper operation of prisons and that this can reduce actual operating capacity well below its intended level.
Records are not maintained in such a manner as to readily identify the principal offence of each offender currently in custody.
I am sure the Minister will accept that there is an immediate need for additional prison places.
This is a statistical question and the Deputy's supplementary questions should relate to statistics rather than policy.
This is the statistic with which I wish the Minister to deal. The increase in the 1996 Estimate for the Department of Justice is 2 per cent or below the rate of inflation. How many prison spaces does the Minister intend to create with that minuscule increase and does she accept that the additional allocation of £3.7 million subsequent to that will not build new prisons?
I intend to create 278 additional prison places up to mid-1997. Already, 33 additional places have come into play in St. Patrick's Institution since my announcement at the end of January and a further 38 places lost through a fire in the health care unit are due for completion at the end of April. In addition 25 places will be available in the first phase of Castlerea prison and will be completed by late summer this year. Works to adapt the military detention barracks at the Curragh to accommodate civilian prisoners are due to commence the week after Easter. A contract has been placed for certain construction works at Portlaoise Prison, which is part of my programme to produce an additional 105 places.
The design of a replacement wing for the derelict and closed down D wing in Limerick is advancing rapidly and will accommodate 55 offenders. Furthermore, the Government has agreed that I can proceed with the provision of a female prison and the remainder of the Castlerea prison.
Bearing in mind the Minister's answer earlier that over 4,000 temporary release orders were made last year and the answer now given that there are 2,209 prison places which are fully occupied, is it not the case that by dividing one into the other one finds that the average sentence being served in Irish jails is less than four months and that it is largely the result of inadequate prison accommodation?
Quite frankly I do not know where the Deputy is getting the figures. I gave out figures for early and temporary releases but one cannot just divide one into the other to work out the number of prison places needed because the reasons for early or temporary release are varied in many cases. I have admitted many times — and it was the case before I took office — that one of the considerations for early release is the lack of spaces in our prison system. I cannot match the Deputy's mental arithmetic divisions because I do not believe it has been done properly. If the Deputy tables a very specific question about this matter I will endeavour to answer it.
The programme I have instituted for the additional places will assist greatly in lessening the number of people who serve less than their full sentence.
My question is based on the Minister's reply on prison places and places of detention. Does she see any merit in recognising the places that she did not mention even though she probably understands my concern — and I know it is also hers — in the area the Minister and I represent where Oberstown and Trinity House are located? Does the Minister recognise the aspect of detention which these places represent and could they not be included, albeit with the proviso they are under the Department of Education administration, so that we are left in no doubt of the Minister's concern for these places as well as the other places of detention?
The question does not include the places in Trinity House and Oberstown House because they are part of the Department of Education.
Will the Minister of State, Deputy Currie answer it?
No. The Minister of State, Deputy Currie is answering questions as Minister of State at the Department of Justice. When education is the subject of questions the Deputy should table specific questions. I cannot answer a question about another Minister's Department.
I put it to the Minister that an allocation of £3.7 million additional to the 2 per cent increase on the present Estimate for 1996 cannot and will not build the prison at Mountjoy which the Minister said she had permission to build, neither will it build the 165 place high security prison at Castlerea, County Roscommon, which is urgently needed. Is it her intention to bring before the Dáil a Supplementary Estimate for her Department to provide these places?
I am satisfied that the resources in my budget this year, including the £3.7 million, will allow me to proceed with the provision of the planned places I have announced. Any further resources I need to advance my plans in 1997 will be included in my Estimates for 1997. I have enough money to advance on my proposals. I have £400,000 for the women's prison and £100,000 for the first phase of Castlerea prison. I will not be able to spend any more money than that this year. The Deputy can be absolutely satisfied that I will get the remainder of the money for the building programme. Money is available in this year's budget to proceed to the stage of building the prison.
Have the Tánaiste and the Minister for Social Welfare approved that?
I was disappointed the Deputy did not come to the opening of the training unit.
On a point of order, if the Minister had complied with her statutory duty to file up-to-date prison reports, none of these statistical questions would have been necessary.
