Joe Walsh
Question:20 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to renovate certain Garda stations around the country where conditions are appalling. [9767/96]
Written Answers. - Garda Building Programme.
One of my priorities as Minister for Justice is to ensure that adequate and suitable accommodation is provided for the Garda Síochána throughout the country.
A very considerable investment has been made in improving Garda accommodation in recent years. Since 1992 over £24 million has been spent between maintenance and new works. In the two years 1995-1996 in which I have been involved as Minister in the provision of money for the Garda building programme some £17 million has been allocated. This year alone there is an allocation of nearly £9 million. This is an indication of my commitment to eliminating accommodation problems throughout the country.
Tom Kitt
Question:21 Mr. T. Kitt asked the Minister for Justice the reason there is no need for a drug free unit at Cork Prison. [9750/96]
The drug-free unit which commenced operation at the training unit recently is, in itself, a radical development which will need evaluation over time to properly assess its effectiveness. Early indications are very positive and suggest that we are on the right track. I intend to consult the management of the other institutions, including Cork Prison, with a view to the possible extension of the model where appropriate throughout the prison system.
While I have not excluded the option of opening a drug-free unit at Cork Prison, I have already implemented a number of other measures at the prison. To date, these measures have been mainly focused on curbing the supply of illegal drugs to inmates and have proved particularly effective. I am informed by the management of the prison that while there are some drug related incidents from time to time the overall level of drug abuse within the institution is now negligible.
My overall aim is to achieve effective drug-free status, or at least to get as close as possible to that situation, throughout all of the institutions under my jurisdiction. The utilisation of drug-free units is but one of the strategies I am employing to this end.