Prison Service

Tuesday, 20 June 2023

Questions (437)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

437. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Justice to provide a list of the recipients of the community fund put in place to benefit the community as a result of the building of the new Cork Prison from 2014, in tabular form; and the amount received. [29293/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Justice

As the Deputy is aware the Irish Prison Service commenced a major project in Cork to build a new prison on a site adjacent to the old prison at Rathmore Road, Cork City in 2014. The development was completed and opened in 2016 and has provided greatly enhanced facilities for those committed to Cork Prison.

At the time of the development, the Irish Prison Service recognised that the construction phase would have an impact on the local community with disruption caused by increased noise, traffic and increased levels of dust arising from the works. As part of the project and in recognition of this fact, the Irish Prison Service, provided financial support for the development of community facilities in the locality including funding the construction of playgrounds at two local schools, namely St Brendan's and St Mark's National Schools. The total cost of this was circa €120,000

In addition to this, the Irish Prison Service also established a fund for the making of once-off ex gratia payments to those impacted by the construction works including payments to a number of community groups and clubs. At that time ex gratia payments totalling €45,000 were made to six community groups and details of these payments are set out in the table below. This does not include individual payments made to local residents/home owners/home occupiers who were also impacted by the development works.

Cork Prison Community Fund - Payment to Community Groups/Organisations

Community Groups/Organisations	Payment
Glen Celtic FC	€ 7,500
Men's Shed	€12,500
Happy Talk	€12,500
Glen Rovers/St Nick's Underage section	€ 3,850
St Brendan's School	€ 4,325
St Mark's School	€ 4,325
Total	€45,000