Vol. 459 No. 8
15 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the total number of prison places available; the total number of prison places required; the measures, if any, she proposes to address the shortfall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18890/95]
58 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Justice if she intends to provide additional prison places; if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18950/95]
I intend to take Questions Nos. 15 and 58 together.
There are currently on average 2,210 prison places available. As I stated to Deputy Callely in answer to his question of 9 November 1995 the Department of Justice published in 1994 a major policy document in relation to prisons entitled "The Management of Offenders — A Five Year Plan". This outlines in detail the best way forward for the prison system for the following five years.
The provision of additional prison spaces is one of the elements of the strategy set out in this document. As the Deputy will be aware, in June of this year the Government decided to defer the Castlerea prison project and the proposed new women's prison. The matter of the Castlerea project is still under examination by an interdepartmental committee set up after the decision on the deferrral was taken. This committee has been asked to report to me by the end of December 1995. In addition, I am exploring possibilities within the existing system to create extra places.
In the meantime the other elements of the strategy set out in the five year plan, such as the importance of developing community sanctions and measures as a means of avoiding the negative effects of imprisonment will be developed. Some of these sanctions are already in place but there is scope for extending community based sanctions and measures and I will be pursuing this issue in the months ahead.
