Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
344. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if the Irish Prison Service owns properties or sites which are vacant or derelict; if so, the number and addresses of such properties; if they are recorded on the vacancy or dereliction registers; and the reason for which they are vacant, in tabular form. [43596/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service has two sites currently not in use, namely Thornton Hall, Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin and the former Cork Prison site located at Rathmore Road, Cork City.
The Deputy will be aware that the site at Thornton Hall was purchased by the State in 2005 for a new prison development that did not proceed at the time. The site of the former Cork Prison, is not currently in use as a prison following the opening of new facilities adjacent to that location in 2016.
The Irish Prison Service retains a strong strategic interest in both sites for the possible future expansion of the prison estate.
The entry of a site onto a vacant property register is a matter for the local authority who may do so following an assessment of the site and I am advised by my officials that neither site referenced above is currently recorded on the vacant property register of the relevant local authority.
