Cecilia Keaveney
Question:15 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice the total number of prison places that will be created in 1996 in view of the additional allocation of £3.7 million. [9746/96]
Written Answers. - Prison Places.
Ivor Callely
Question:149 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the measures, if any, she intends to take to address the issue of the need for additional detention places; the consideration, if any, she has given for such additional places to be located in the Dublin region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9860/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 149 together.
The position in relation to the provision of additional prison places is as I announced at the end of January last. I am proceeding with planning and construction works for the provision of the 278 additional places I promised earlier this year. Already, 33 additional places were brought into use at St. Patrick's Institution in February and a further 38 places, which were out of use arising from extensive fire damage at the health care unit, Mountjoy, in December 1995, will be ready for reoccupation within the next two weeks following major fire damage repair and fire safety upgrading works at the unit.
Construction works for the conversion of the military detention unit at the Curragh to a civil prison to accommodate 68 offenders were commenced within the past week and are due for completion in autumn this year. Works for the construction of a special prison unit at Castlerea to accommodate 25 offenders have commenced and these places are expected to come on stream within four months.
At Portlaoise Prison, a series of works necessary for the recovery of up to 80 cell spaces now vacant due to operational requirements or used to accommodate a range of necessary offender facilities have been commenced and are due for completion within the current year.