Vol. 486 No. 1
755 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the extension and upgrading of the education unit at St. Patrick's Institution, North Circular Road, Dublin 7 will commence; the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure these important works proceed without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1307/98]
The project to which the Deputy is referring has been under consideration for some time in the context of the ongoing programme for works in the prisons. The proposed facility is a new purpose-built, educational and recreational building for offenders.
The allocation of funding to the various building projects arising from time to time within the prisons is carried out with regard to several factors and as the Deputy will appreciate, the demands — most of which are, as with this project, worthwhile — always outstrip the available resources. The programme of works currently under way includes the provision of 1,000 much needed additional prison spaces, as well as extensive refurbishments and essential maintenance works. St. Patrick's Institution has in recent years benefited from this programme. For example, all the prisoner accommodation in the institution has been refurbished and is now equipped with in-cell sanitation and has been provided with modern fire safety installations.
I am, unfortunately, unable to enter into any commitment, at this time, regarding the commencement of this project, other than to state that, subject to the availability of the necessary financial resources, its status will be reviewed in the context of the ongoing programme of prison works and the overall re-organisation of the St. Patrick's Institution Mountjoy Prison complex, following the completion of construction of the new 400 place remand prison at Cloverhill later this year.
