Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2021
149. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Justice the expected timeline for completion of the new Limerick women’s prison; if it will remain a medium security prison; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57854/21]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the construction of the new women's prison forms part of a major redevelopment project currently underway at Limerick Prison.
The construction of the new women's prison, which will provide accommodation for 50 female prisoners, is a core element of the project which also includes the construction of a new accommodation block for male prisoners, new kitchen, vehicle gate lock, visits/reception area, exercise yards and facilities to support rehabilitation programmes.
The contract was awarded in February 2019 with the construction element currently anticipated to be completed in April 2021. This will be followed by the installation and commissioning of the various security and safety systems with the new facility expected to be operational in Summer 2022. This timeline assumes no further impact on construction activity or supply chain issues due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The design concept for the new women's prison was influenced by best practice in prison design and similar rehabilitation facilities found in Scandinavia. The new prison will have perimeter security features associated with medium level security, as it forms part of the overall prison site.
However, the women's prison facility differs in many respects to the current prison, having been designed around the principles of normalisation, progression and rehabilitation, underpinned by a therapeutic environment to support women in prison to reintegrate back into society on completion of their sentence.
