asked the Minister for Defence to state (a) the total capacity of each of the prisons and places of detention under his control; (b) the present number of persons detained in each such institution; (c) the number of persons in each such institution engaged in prison industries; and (d) the number of persons in each such institution engaged in educational programmes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Military Custody.
3.
It is assumed that the question is intended to relate to places of custody of civilian prisoners in military custody.
The Military Detention Barracks, Curragh Camp and, where necessary, the General Military Hospital, Curragh Camp, are used for the custody of such prisoners.
The detention barracks contain 52 cells.
There are at present 20 civilian prisoners in military custody, 19 of whom are in the detention barracks and one in the hospital.
Of those in the detention barracks, all are engaged in prison industries and nine are engaged in educational programmes.
Would the Minister have any objection to Members of the House who wish to do so visiting prisons in order to examine the standards?
The question about visiting is a separate one.
It would seem to arise reasonably. Would the Minister have any objection?
If Deputy Browne wishes to pursue that matter with me, I suggest that he would contact me at my office when we can discuss the matter.