Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2004
57 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases for compensation lodged to date by serving or former prisoners arising from the lack of in-cell sanitation; his views on the claims lodged; when he expects that all prisons will be fully equipped with in-cell sanitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32508/04]
View answerMy Department has received approximately 400 letters from solicitors representing former and serving inmates in this State alleging that their clients' human rights have been violated due to the practice of slopping out. The majority of cases relate to inmates imprisoned in Cork, Limerick and Portlaoise. I await legal advice from the Attorney General on the matter and cannot comment further other than to say that it is my intention to vigorously contest the claims.
A new accommodation block for Portlaoise Prison is the subject of a tender competition and it is anticipated that construction works will commence in 2005 and be completed by 2007. As the costs and operational issues of retrofitting in-cell sanitation in Mountjoy and Cork Prisons are prohibitive, the Prison Service seeks to develop new state of the art prison facilities on green field sites. In the case of Mountjoy Prison, a process is under way to identify suitable sites near Dublin. My officials and the Office of Public Works are examining plans for a new prison development on Spike Island.
