The majority of prisoners in custody now have 24 hour access to in cell sanitation thanks to substantial investment in the prison estate since 1997. The current prisons capital programme is aimed at the provision of full modern in-cell sanitation in all prison accommodation. I would expect that the remaining cells that do not have this facility at Portlaoise, Limerick, Cork and Mountjoy prisons will be refurbished or replaced within the next four years.
I am aware of newspaper reports regarding a recent decision of the Scottish courts to award damages to a prisoner who claimed that his rights had been violated due to the existence of the practice known as slopping out. These reports seemed to suggest that the damages related to the prisoner having to slop out, which is not the case. There were specific conditions of detention in the case in Scotland which would not apply to the Irish situation. It appears to me that the effect of these newspaper reports has been to encourage or prompt prisoners and former prisoners in Ireland to initiate legal action against the State.
Approximately 200 letters have been received in my Department from solicitors representing former and serving prison inmates in the State alleging that their clients' human rights have been violated due to the practice of slopping out. The majority of these cases relate to inmates imprisoned in Cork, Limerick and Portlaoise Prisons.
I am awaiting legal advice from the Attorney General in the matter and cannot comment further, other than to say that it is my intention to vigorously contest these claims.