Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Prison Accommodation.

John Perry

Question:

592 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has for Loughan House in view of the fact that it has a maximum capacity of 90 and now has only 40 prisoners; the plans, if any, he has for the prison personnel and staff; if the staff will be relocated; if there will be any financial contributions made for relocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21346/98]

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

I refer the Deputy to my answer to Question No. 706 on 30 September 1998.

Since then officials of my Department have met the staff at Loughan House and explained the background to the proposal to re-deploy some staff from there to Castlerea Prison. In the context of seeking to maximise the occupancy rate of Loughan House, I have also directed my Department to carry out a trawl of the closed prisons with the objective of increasing the number of offenders there. The issue of staff numbers and transfers will be considered in the light of the results of this exercise.