Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Mar 1999

Vol. 501 No. 6

Written Answers. - Prison Accommodation.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

352 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prisoners held in other than single occupancy cells in each prison; the number of prisoners held in cells without toilet facilities; and if the practice of slopping out has ceased in all prisons. [6831/99]

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

On 4 March 1999 the number of prisoners held in multiple occupancy cells and the number of prisoners held in cells without toilet facilities was as outlined in the following table.

Prison	No. prisoners not in single cell	No. Prisoners in cells without toilet facilities	Slopping out still practised
Mountjoy Male	460	587	Yes
Mountjoy Female	Nil	Nil	No
St. Patrick's	62	Nil	No
Cork	246	270	Yes
Limerick Male	154	148	Yes
Limerick Female	9	15	Yes
Castlerea	20	Nil	No
Wheatfield	40	Nil	No
Portlaoise	57	148	Yes
Arbour Hill	42	Nil	No
Fort Mitchel	100	2	No
Training Unit	Nil	87(*)	No
Curragh	64	Nil	No
Loughan	45	57(*)	No
Shanganagh Castle	55	55(*)	No
Shelton Abbey	51	51(*)	No
Total	1,405	1,420

*There are no in-cell toilets in these institutions. However, these prisoners have 24 hour access to toilet facilities.

The practice of slopping out continues in Mountjoy, Cork, Portlaoise and Limerick prisons. Several areas of Limerick Prison have in-cell sanitation. Those prisoners without in-cell sanitation in Limerick Prison have access to toilet facilities until late lock-up at 9.30 p.m. Access beyond this time is at the discretion of the officer in charge in the interests of minimising the necessity for slopping out. In the prisons where slopping out is still practised every effort is made to minimise discomfort and maintain privacy, bearing in mind the need for security and good order.

Since taking up office I have put in place a substantial programme of prison refurbishment and construction. The extensive refurbishment programme at the older prisons includes the replacement over the next year of the C wing at Limerick Prison and the D Block in Portlaoise Prison. The refurbishment of Mountjoy Prison, over a five year period, including the installation of integral sanitation, is planned to start as soon as possible following the opening of the new remand centre at Cloverhill. There are several areas of Mountjoy Prison where in-cell sanitation is provided. With the ongoing refurbishment programme this will become the norm throughout the prison rendering the practice of slopping out obsolete. While the refurbishment of Mountjoy is long overdue, it would simply not be possible to start in advance of additional prison accommodation being available.