Vol. 413 No. 5
52 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the steps which are being taken to bring about the promised renovation of Mountjoy Prison as stated in his December, 1990 law enforcement package; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The range of measures which I announced in the law enforcement package for 1991 included the construction of a new unit in Mountjoy Prison to cater for offenders with communicable diseases, and the refurbishment of Mountjoy Women's Prison.
The position in relation to the new unit — which will provide an additional 57 prison places — is that work commenced in April 1991 and is expected to be completed in June 1992. Work on the total refurbishment of Mountjoy Women's Prison commenced recently and is due for completion in September 1992. This work, which includes in-cell sanitation, will bring the women's prison up to the same high standard as the newly refurbished D wing of St. Patrick's Institution which I inaugurated in September of this year and which now houses women prisoners pending completion of the refurbishment of the women's prison. Incidentally, the construction of a new kitchen and bakery in Mountjoy is also due to commence in the near future.
