Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2004
288 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide a list of the research documents and other materials used by Government officials in the deliberations into transferring the management of Loughan House and Shelton Abbey from the Prison Service operations to outside the service. [4361/04]
View answerOn 11 November 2003, the Government decided to implement, from 1 January 2004, a number of measures in the event of failure to reach agreement with the Prison Officers' Association in ongoing talks on the proposed change agenda aimed at eliminating overtime payments and reducing prison costs. These measures include the transformation of the open centres at Loughan House and Shelton Abbey into post-release centres for the reintegration into society of prisoners on conditional temporary release. The precise arrangements for the running of such facilities are being finalised in my Department.
The proposal to transform the open centres into hostel type accommodation took into account all relevant information. The idea of hostel type accommodation for prisoners in order to reintegrate them into society has been put forward in many reports, including the National Economic and Social Forum report on the reintegration of prisoners, forum report No. 22; the final report of the expert group on the probation and welfare service; the national crime forum report, 1998; the management of offenders — a five step plan.
I have made it clear on several occasions, both inside and outside the House, that I want the Prison Officers' Association to agree to a reasonable and sustainable cost structure for the continued involvement of prison officers in operating our prisons and open centres. However, if consensus is not possible, I will have no option but to continue to proceed with implementation of the measures decided by Government, including alternative arrangements for the operation of Shelton Abbey and Loughan House.
