Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 1997

Vol. 483 No. 6

Written Answers. - Prison Building.

Michael Bell

Question:

113 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps, if any, he has taken to establish an incarceration centre exclusively for prisoners on remand; the measures, if any, he has taken to reduce the number of suicides by prisoners on remand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21226/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

Construction works for a new 400 place male remand prison, on the site adjoining Wheatfield place of detention, are well advanced and this purpose-designed, modern facility is due for completion late next year. On completion, all remand prisoners within the Dublin/Leinster area will be accommodated there. The intention is that Mountjoy Prison and St. Patrick's Institution will no longer be used for holding male remand prisoners.

In relation to female remand prisoners, the new women's prison, now under construction at Cowley Place beside Mountjoy, which will have accommodation for 80 prisoners in total, will provide for the separation of remand and sentenced female prisoners, when that facility comes on stream late next year.

In the matter of preventing self injuries and suicides by prisoners, particular consideration and care is taken in the design, construction and fit out of all cells in the new prisons to minimise the opportunities for occupants using the structures and fittings as aids or means to inflict self injury. Similar precautions are taken when refurbishment and upgrading works are undertaken in the existing prisons. I might add that the new remand prison will have a significant number of cells designed for multiple occupancy. It is generally accepted that such occupancy helps prevent prisoners committing suicide or otherwise harming themselves at the early stage of their incarceration.

A number of prisoners who have died in our prisons over the years were being held on remand. Every death in custody — be it of a remand or sentenced person — is a tragedy. An elaborate strategy is in place for the prevention of suicides in prisons but unless there is to be a total denial of all personal privacy to all prisoners at all times the possibility of suicides in custody cannot be precluded no more than it can be precluded in the wider community.

Fifty-two of the 57 suicide prevention recommendations contained in the report of the advisory group on prison deaths (published in August 1991) have been implemented or are in the course of implementation.

A national steering committee on suicide awareness was also set up last year. This committee has met on a number of occasions to date and is reviewing the ongoing relevance of the 1991 recommendations. I will be only too happy to consider any proposals for improvement recommended by the steering committee.