I thank Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, for coming to the House. The need to retain and maximise the use of Loughan House, Blacklion, County Cavan, as a prison and place of detention is of the utmost importance. Loughan House is situated in Blacklion, County Cavan, on the borders of Counties Cavan, Fermanagh and Leitrim. This area has suffered mass emigration, depopulation and was badly affected by the troubles in Northern Ireland. In view of this, I seek clarification from the Minister on the future of Loughan House.
The Minister stated last week that if the Prison Officers Association does not accept his proposals to reduce the prison officers' overtime bill, he will press ahead with his own plans. Under these plans, two prisons, Loughan House, County Cavan, and Shelton Abbey, County Wicklow, will be run by an outside agency. This has caused alarm in west County Cavan and surrounding counties due to the perceived threat to Loughan House Prison.
Loughan House is a small prison with accommodation for 85 inmates. It is the most cost effective prison in the country. The approximate cost of maintaining a prisoner amounts to €63,000 per annum, which contrasts with a cost of €207,000 per prisoner at Portlaoise Prison. Why is one of the most effective prisons in the country in terms of cost as well as training now under threat? It does not make economic or social sense.
A large number of families in the area depend on Loughan House Prison. They contribute greatly to the community as the majority of the prison staff live locally. This community is not in a position to lose more people. From speaking to staff and their families, I know that they are fully committed to the community. Many have been there for over 20 years. If these proposals are implemented, they, and their families, will be forced to move to other parts of the country. The desire of the staff and their families is to stay in west County Cavan. The staff are committed to the prison and to their local community. They want to see Loughan House remain as a prison and detention centre and retain its current status. It would be a catastrophe for the small local community if these officers were forced to move to other prisons. Local schools, churches, sports and community groups would find themselves with great facilities but no people to utilise them.
Loughan House Prison has an education centre under the auspices of County Cavan Vocational Education Committee where a dedicated, highly-skilled staff give of themselves positively to their pupils, the inmates. Many of those who have availed of the education services have achieved FETAC and ECDL awards, despite having little or no education.
Under the current proposals, staff will not lose their jobs, but would be transferred to other prisons. For Members from Dublin, this may seem like no big deal. For example, a prison officer transferred from Arbour Hill to Mountjoy Prison would not have to move house, let alone from one community to another. However, in County Cavan, prison officers would be moved to Castlerea, County Roscommon, or further. A move to Castlerea Prison would entail a 140 mile round trip for prison officers who have settled with their families in the area around Blacklion.
At a time when we are putting record amounts of money into communities to build sports facilities, etc. it would be crazy to even consider such a proposal. Rural communities, especially those along the Border, need to be built up. Transferring prison officers and their families from these communities would be another nail in the coffin for rural towns and villages. I have visited Loughan House on a number of occasions with my colleague Deputy Brendan Smith and local councillor Eddie Feeley. The upgrading of facilities in the past decade has greatly improved the prison. It is my hope and that of the people of west Cavan that Loughan House will remain a place of detention.
I hope the Minister will get time in the very near future to visit the prison and see the good work that goes on there. I again thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this Adjournment matter.