Vol. 466 No. 7
149 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice if she will give details of the proposed facility at the old bakery Parnell St., Dublin 1; whether this property has been acquired by her Department; and if so, the reason for the concentration of prison facilities in the general area of the north city. [12353/96]
The old Kennedy Bakery in Parnell Street has been leased by the Department of Justice and is presently being renovated for use by my Department's Probation and Welfare Service.
The Bridge Project, which is operated by the Probation and Welfare Service will be housed there. The project provides a programme which addresses the lifestyle of offenders on supervision to the service, aimed at diverting them from crime and finding them employment or other meaningful occupations. A substantial number of referrals to the project are offenders from the north inner city. The centre will be non-residential and will operate only during office hours.
The Bridge Project has a management committee comprised of representatives of criminal justice agencies in the community, business people who are members of the Irish Youth Federation, City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, FÁS, ICTU and research interests.
