Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 1997

Vol. 483 No. 6

Written Answers. - Prison Accommodation.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

32 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which the figure was arrived at in relation to the commitment given in An Action Programme for the Millennium regarding the provision of 2,000 additional prison places; the research, if any, which was undertaken to establish the demand for prison places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21087/97]

It is quite obvious that the existing level of prison accommodation is grossly inadequate to meet current demands and that this has been the case for some years now. Furthermore, it is clear to this Government, considering the established trends in the numbers of committals to prison, on conviction and on remand, that the prison capacity increase that was being provided for by the previous Government was inadequate to fully cater for future demands.

Considering the gross overcrowding of prison accommodation, the totally unacceptable high levels of temporary releases existing and the infamous "revolving door syndrome" which seems to have become an accepted part of the operation of our prisons over recent years, it is self-evident that urgent drastic action is called for to prevent the total breakdown of the prison system.

Bearing in mind, on top of that, the ever increasing numbers of custodial sentences being imposed for serious crimes and the likely impact on the remand prisoner population arising from amendment of the bail laws, this Government had no hesitation in placing its commitment to provide 2,000 additional prison places, including 1,000 places and a new remand prison within the first two years, among its key priorities in the programme for fighting crime. I am pleased to confirm that my Department's prison building programme is on target to deliver in excess of the 1,000 additional places promised by mid-1999.

Regarding research in the area, my Department monitors relevant research and related developments in the penological area. Trends in the rates of imprisonment both here and in other jurisdictions are studied. I can inform the Deputy that the recent experience, in this jurisdiction, of increases in the numbers of both males and females being committed to custody reflects similar trends in the UK and elsewhere throughout Europe.
I am satisfied, therefore, that the planned increase in prison accommodation is fully justified and, indeed, essential for the orderly and safe operation of the prison system, as we enter the new millennium.
I am equally convinced of the need to maximise the use of custody alternatives and have signalled my views, more than once, on the case for a balanced justice system. This does not, however, dispose of the basic reality that, for the reasons I have mentioned, we now need a significant increase in prison capacity. The need has been apparent for years and now it is being tackled.
Top
Share