Ned O'Keeffe
Question:436 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has the intention of reopening of recently closed prison in the future. [5632/04]
View answerTuesday, 24 February 2004
Questions (334, 335, 336)
Conor Lenihan
Question:454 Mr. Conor Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the Shelton Abbey prison facility and if it will be retained under the control of the Irish Prison Service. [5904/04]
View answerConor Lenihan
Question:455 Mr Conor Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will ensure that if the Shelton Abbey prison facility is to be given to another agency, that all ot the existing prisoner officer staff will be offered positions with the new agencies given both the age and experience these officers have in relation to administering this open prison facility. [5906/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 436, 454 and 455 together.
The Deputies will be aware that on 11 November 2003, the Government approved a series of measures to be taken on a rolling basis with effect from 1 January 2004 in the event of failure to reach agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on a change agenda aimed at eliminating overtime payments and reducing other costs in the Irish prison service. These measures included the mothballing of the Curragh and Fort Mitchel places of detention and the transformation of the open centres at Loughan House and Shelton Abbey into independently managed post-release centres for the reintegration of prisoners into society.
The reasons for the Government decision have been well aired in the House and the Seanad. I would refer the Deputy to the Adjournment debates in this House on 12, 18 and 27 November 2003 and to an Adjournment debate in the Seanad on 19 November, 2003. In the course of those debates, I made it clear that the Irish Prison Service could not continue to spend public money to feed an overtime culture which was virtually out of control, while maintaining outdated and inefficient work practices. I also made it clear that I had no desire to close or mothball prisons and that my preference was for a mutually advantageous agreement with the Prison Officers' Association which would ensure an efficient and cost effective prison service into the future. My position has not changed in that regard.
In the absence of agreement with the Prison Officers' Association, the Curragh place of detention closed on 20 January 2004 and Fort Mitchel closed on 10 February 2004. I have no plans at present to reopen either of the two facilities.
As regards Shelton Abbey, I temporarily deferred its closure and the closure of Loughan House for logistical reasons, and in the context of contact with the Labour Relations Commission in the lead-up to last week's resumption of talks with the Prison Officers' Association. The future of these two institutions will be kept under continuing review in the light of progress in the talks. In the event that it becomes necessary to transform Shelton Abbey and Loughan House into post-release centres, neither facility would remain under the control of the Irish Prison Service. Alternative staffing arrangements will be a matter for the new management.
I am further informed that, subject to no queries arising, the application will be completed within the next few weeks.