Vol. 481 No. 7
94 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the independent prisons authority and prisons inspectorate, the establishment of which he has promised, will be placed on a statutory footing; the estimated costs associated with these proposals; when he intends to publish detailed proposals and present a legislative framework to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17073/97]
The Government's commitment in the Action Programme for the New Millennium to establish an independent prisons authority and also a prisons inspectorate is being followed through as a matter of priority.
The prisons authority will be established on a statutory footing and my Department is currently drafting a general scheme of a Bill. I expect to be in a position to publish the prison service Bill in the next Dáil session.
I am strongly of the view that the prisons inspectorate should be underpinned by statute and I propose to provide a statutory basis for it in the Bill establishing the prisons authority.
The detailed arrangements required to give effect to both measures are under consideration in my Department. Any cost implications will be addressed in the context of the overall investment required to upgrade the management function and management systems in the prison service to modern day standards.
