asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners who can be accommodated at present in Limerick Prison; the number at present serving sentences there; and if he is satisfied that accommodation is adequate.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick Prison Accommodation.
53.
I assume that the question relates to male prisoners as there is no accommodation problem in the female section of Limerick Prison.
Under the rules at present in force, the prison can accommodate 116 male prisoners. As of yesterday, the actual number there was 108. While this is less than maximum capacity, it is somewhat higher than is desirable.
As has already been publicised, the unprecedented rise in the prison population has made it necessary to provide temporary additional accommodation pending completion of the building programme for Mountjoy and Portlaoise. With the co-operation of the Minister for Defence, Cork Detention Barracks, which has accommodation for 100 prisoners, has now been made available as a civil prison on a temporary basis. It will be ready to receive prisoners in the course of the next week or so and the situation in Limerick and other prisons will then be eased significantly.
Would the Minister consider increasing the Garda force?
This is being done very actively.
It is being done but not actively.
Recruitment is in progress and interviews are taking place.
Can the Minister say if there is central heating in that prison?
I do not know.
I take it there is and I might add that it is about time that all Garda stations had central heating.
That is a separate question.