Ivor Callely
Question:82 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the total number of prison places available; the total number of prison places required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10643/96]
Written Answers. - Prison Places.
The total number of prison places currently available is 2,210. The Five Year Plan for the Management of Offenders June 1994, estimated that in order to eliminate all ad hoc releases and overcrowding, an increase of 825 places would be necessary. The cost of providing these places was estimated at about £90 million, with an annual operating cost of £30 million. The report did not recommend the creation of that number of extra places, making the point that a certain level of early releases — or parole — would always be justified. The report stated that a credible case for 500-600 extra places could be made to eliminate overcrowding and reduce the level of early releases somewhat.
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 week 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 two weeks, 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.
These measures will increase the available accommodation by over 14 per cent. I am satisfied that these additional spaces, along with increased reliance on community sanctions and positive sentence management, in appropriate cases will have a significant impact on the overall pressure on accommodation in the prisons and help reduce the level of temporary releases due to the shortage of prison accommodation.