The site of Cowley Place, North Circular Road, Dublin beside Mountjoy Prison, which includes the former, now derelict, staff housing, is earmarked for a new purpose-built women's prison. With the approval of the Government, work in connection with the provision of the new women's prison has recommenced and design work for the proposed new facility is being advanced. It is proposed to initiate the appropriate planning process for this development under the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994, in the near future. In the meantime, steps have been taken to make the site in Cowley Place secure and safe pending clearance of the site.