asked the Minister for Defence the plans he has for the use of the new 400 cell prison in the Curragh.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Curragh Camp Reserve Prison Accommodation.
31.
The reserve prison accommodation at the Curragh Camp will be used as a place of military custody in a situation where the number of civilian prisoners to be transferred to military custody exceeds the capacity of the existing detention barracks. This situation has not arisen to-date. Should the necessity for having this reserve prison accommodation cease, the premises can be put to normal army use as dining, billet and secure storage accommodation.
Could the Minister inform the House how many prisoners are at present in military custody in that establishment?
That is a separate question. That is not the original question.
On what basis would the prisoners to be contained in this prison be chosen?
That is surely a separate question.
I should like to know the basis of selectivity.
I do not mind informing the Deputy. Under the Prison's Act, 1972, civilian prisoners are transferred to military custody on the direction of the Minister for Justice, who certifies that he is of the opinion that prison accommodation or prison staff is insufficient to provide secure and reasonable conditions of custody or is insufficient to provide such conditions without serious detriment to the maintenance in prisons of the normal arrangements for rehabilitative treatment and welfare of prisoners.
Is the Minister saying that there is not any particular difference about the prisoners in this prison as opposed to any other?
The question inaccurately refers to a new 400-cell prison. That is not correct. This is a reserve detention area which could accommodate between 60 and 90 prisoners.
Would these be ordinary prisoners?
Civilian prisoners in military custody.