Written Answers. - Prison Accommodation.
Joe Higgins
Ceist:
214
Mr. Higgins (Dublin West)
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the steps, if any, taken to implement the report to the Irish Government on the visit to Ireland by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted on 10 June 1994; whether he plans to provide new accommodation for women prisoners in Limerick in view of the recommendation that a high priority be given to the plan for a new prison for women and, in the meantime, steps be taken immediately to ensure that women prisoners are not held two to a cell in C Division at Limerick Prison; and that paragraph 89 of the same report stated, in its section on Limerick Prison, that conditions in C Division which accommodated women prisoners were a cause of particular concern to the delegation. -
[11347/98]
My Department is engaged in an ongoing comprehensive, prioritised, programme of refurbishment, improvement and upgrading works in the existing prisons. The programme, which has been under way for many years and has been expanded over recent years, covers a broad range of improvement works. Projects completed under the programme include total refurbishment of cell blocks, installation of in-cell sanitation, upgrading of kitchen, education, training, medical, visiting and recreation facilities at several institutions. Additionally, many projects for the upgrading of safety, including fire safety, security, administration and staff facilities have been completed. This programme of works is ongoing and it is my intention to seek funding for its continuation of the years ahead.
In the course of the above work, the vast majority of the major issues raised in the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Prisoners in relation to prison facilities have been addressed. While it has not been possible, to date, to rectify all the inadequacies highlighted in the report, plans are in hand to tackle the balance of outstanding matters.
As the Deputy will be aware, in addition to the programme of refurbishment works, a major capital building programme for the provision of additional prison places is under way. This building programme will have delivered almost 1,100 additional places by mid-1999 and this will exceed the undertaking in the Programme for Government to deliver 1,000 additional prison places in the first two years of the life of this Government. Plans are now being drawn up for the provision of the further prison places promised in the Programme for Government.
Under the current building programme, construction of a new purpose designed female prison is well under way. It will accommodate up to 80 female prisoners and will be completed by the end of this year. It is located adjacent to, but completely separate from, the existing Mountjoy prison. It will provide living accommodation and necessary ancillary facilities and services to the highest modern standards.
In the particular case of Limerick prison, a major programme of works for the improvement and upgrading of the institution has been under way over the last two years. The old closed down D Block has been completely replaced with a modern up-to-date cell block which accommodates 60 prisoners. It incorporates in-cell sanitation and a range of prisoner facilities. Modern toilet and shower facilities have been provided on each landing of the A, B and E Blocks. In addition, the kitchen is being completed renovated and extended.
In relation to the C Block, which houses female prisoners, initial consideration and discussions are currently taking place for the replacement of this block. When the design work is completed, it is intended to completely demolish this division and replace it with a modern block with in-cell sanitation and up-to-date facilities. It is planned, as part of this overall improvement of Limerick Prison, to relocate female prisoners to much superior cell accommodation within the complex and to provide them with a suitable range of support facilities.
In the normal course, women prisoners are no longer held two to a cell at Limerick prison unless by prisoner request, that is, sisters, cousins or friends who request to be together. The improved accommodation to be provided for females will be based on single occupancy of cells.
