Frances Fitzgerald
Question:139 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has for the Women's Prison; and her views on whether a separate remand facility would be more appropriate for women prisoners. [14791/96]
Written Answers. - Women's Prison.
On Tuesday last I obtained Government approval for the necessary capital funding to enable the construction of the new Women's Prison at Cowley Place, near Mountjoy, which will provide 60 extra prison places, to begin in January, 1997.
I recognise the need to separate remand and convicted prisoners. The design of the new Women's Prison provides for the separation of prisoners by categories and will, therefore, permit remand prisoners to be held apart from convicted prisoners. In view of the overall numbers of female prisoners involved, a separate remand institution could not be justified.