asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that one person is in hospital at Arbour Hill and a number are on special diet as a result, it is stated, of the conditions imposed on them by the inadequate size of the portion of the exercise ground there allotted to them, and that the prisoners have made a request for an extension of the ground; and whether he will state whether the extension of the ground will be arranged for.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Prison Conditions.
No prisoner is or has been in hospital or on special diet at Arbour Hill as a result of conditions arising out of inadequate space for exercise. Application was made for additional ground for exercise, but in point of fact the ground already allotted to the prisoners is not availed of to its full extent.
Is the Minister aware that only a very small allotment of the ground available has been put at the disposal of these prisoners, and that there is additional ground which, without the slightest inconvenience, could be given to the prisoners, and which would make it much easier and much more attractive for them to take the exercise which is necessary for them?
Full facilities for the taking of adequate exercise have been given. Some of the prisoners do not avail of it. I cannot help that, and I cannot coerce them into taking exercise.
Is the Minister aware that, in fact, some of these men are on reduced and special diet because of the condition to which they have been reduced through want of exercise——
No, that is not so.
——and will the Minister consider an extension of the ground which possibly might make exercise more attractive to these men? The Minister surely is aware that exercise is necessary for men in these conditions.
That is true and every possible facility for exercise has been granted to prisoners, beyond and above anything ever heard of in prisons before. Most of these men are availing of the facilities, but some are not, and if I gave the Phoenix Park for exercise, if they wanted to sit down in portion of it, they would not get exercise.
The Minister probably thinks that the prisoners who are making application for the slightly increased space are people who are not, at the present time, availing of exercise. Will he meet the applicants to the extent of giving them the increased ground and then everybody will be much happier?
We have, in the past, given every possible consideration and we will continue to do so in the future. If it is convenient for the prison authorities to extend the exercise ground, I have no objection.