asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the proposals by his Department to transfer the women prisoners from the women's unit. North Circular Road, to Dundrum Mental Institution with particular reference to the following: (a) if this move is proposed on a permanent or temporary basis; (b) if all staff at the women's prison are being transferred; (c) if so, if there are any options in the matter; (d) if his Department proposes to take account of the disturbance involved to the staff; and (e) the up-to-date position regarding Clondalkin women's prison which was proposed as a permanent location for these prisoners.
Written Answers. - Transfer of Women Prisoners.
58.
In January my predecessor and the Minister for Health announced that a new unit in the grounds of the Central Mental Hospital will, when completed, be transferred to the Department of Justice for the use of the prison service. This unit is not yet completed and I understand that a number of further works may be necessary to render it suitable for offenders. Arrangements for its hand-over to my Department have, accordingly, not yet been finalised.
Broadly, the purpose of the unit's transfer to my Department is to enable facilities to be provided to treat, in modern and hygienic conditions, offenders with AIDS antibodies and drug and drug-related problems. It is proposed that, for the foreseeable future, it will be used to cater primarily for female offenders with these types of medicalrelated problems.
It is proposed that staff attached to the Mountjoy Women's Prison will be redeployed to the new Dundrum unit but it may not be necessary for all of them to transfer to Dundrum as the intention is to staff the unit there (and, indeed, all the prisons) on a mixed basis in accordance with the European Communities (Employment Equality) Regulations, 1985.
In regard to the proposed prison at Wheatfield, the present position is that the site for the prison has been serviced and perimetered and the plans have been brought to the stage where tenders for the custodial buildings could be invited by the Office of Public Works. For the time being, however, a decision on proceeding further has to be deferred.