Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013
195. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if in view of the report by the Committee for the Prevention of Torture following their visit to Cork Prison in 2010, he will indicate if there has been an increase in the frequency of showers taken by prisoners since 2010; the current average frequency of showers taken by prisoners in each part of the prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32620/13]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that extra showers were installed on A1, A2, and A3 landings (3 shower cubicles in each unit) and that showers are now available in all areas of Cork Prison. Furthermore, the main prison shower area can cater for 10 prisoners at a time and the prison gym also has 6 showers which are open daily.
As the Deputy will be aware, legislation to give development consent for a new prison facility for Cork has been approved by this House and will be considered by the Seanad in the coming days. The main purpose of the new prison facility is to replace the substandard prison accommodation in Cork and the new facility will include shower facilities in each individual cell.
