Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 4

Written Answers. - Mountjoy Jail Overcrowding.

Michael McDowell

Question:

50 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice the proposals, if any, she has to alleviate the overcrowding in Mountjoy Jail; the current prison population in the jail; its population capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9783/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Mountjoy prison currently has a capacity of 556 male and 40 female prisoners. It constantly operates at maximum capacity and this is exceeded from time to time. The prisoner population there has gone as high as 643.

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 re-occupation in the near future following major repair and fire safety works at the Unit.

Construction works for the conversion of the military detention unit at the Curragh to a civil prison to accommodates 68 offenders, which is a somewhat higher figure than I announced in January, were commenced within the past week and are due for completion in the autumn of this year. Works for the construction of a prison unit at Castlerea to accommodate 25 offenders have commenced and these places are expected to come on stream around August-September this year.

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.

In the slightly longer term, I am pushing forward with plans for the provision of a replacement for the closed down and near-derelict D-Wing at Limerick prison. The new wing will accommodate 55 offenders. Construction is planned to commence towards the end of this year and to be completed in 1997.

I am also progressing works for the planning and design of the new women's prison at Cowley Place beside Mountjoy prison to accommodate 60 offenders and for the main prison development at Castlerea for male offenders.

All of these developments will help to alleviate the situation in Mountjoy and, indeed, the other institutions under my jurisdiction.