asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether any progress has been made in securing suitable premises for the Borstal Institution at present housed in Cork Jail.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Borstal Institution.
Mr. Boland
In reply to inquiries made by the Commissioners of Public Works more than 20 premises were offered for the accommodation of the Borstal Institution. They were all found to be unsuitable and it seems clear that suitable premises in a suitable locality can be provided only by purchasing a site and building on it. The difficulties of building at the present time are obvious, but I have asked for a report as to the possibility of erecting temporary buildings in a reasonable time and at a reasonable cost.
In the meantime, the conditions at the premises in Cork have been considerably improved. The authorities of University College, Cork, have kindly allowed the institution the use of a playing field which is very conveniently situated. Bicycles have been provided and cycling trips arranged. These developments go a long way towards removing what was one of the most serious defects, viz., the absence of facilities for outdoor exercise. As regards indoor recreation, a new recreation hall was completed and opened a week or so ago. It is equipped with a stage, a piano, a radiogram, ample seating accommodation, and tables for games such as chess or draughts. The lighting and heating are good. The inmates are free to use this hall every evening. The doors of the cells are unlocked from seven in the morning until ten at night.
Generally, conditions are very much better than they have ever been since the Borstal system was started, and I am not inclined to make a change until I am sure that it is going to be a change for the better. I agree, however, that the permanent use of Cork Prison for the institution is undesirable not only from the Borstal point of view, but also because the prison is required for its original purpose as soon as it can be made available.
The Minister has stated that other premises that were inspected were unsuitable. I suggest that they could not be more unsuitable than Cork Jail, in which these lads are confined in the cells. I am aware of the facilities that were given to them recently, but they are still inside a jail and, if there is to be any benefit at all in Borstal treatment, surely it is not inside a jail that those boys should be kept? Any of the places that the Minister has described as unsuitable would, in my opinion, be more suitable than the place they now are in. There are plenty of buildings around the county in which these lads could be housed, rather than allow them to remain inside Cork Prison.