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Prison Accommodation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2005

Thursday, 3 March 2005

Ceisteanna (175)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

175 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prison spaces available in the State; the number of spaces in use; the number of spaces temporarily closed; the number of spaces permanently closed since he assumed his ministerial responsibilities; and the number of spaces required according to his estimates. [7441/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As of 1 March 2005 the maximum available bed capacity of the prison system was 3,357. There were 3,257 persons in custody on that date. That does not however imply the existence of 100 readily available spaces. Two thirds of the available spaces were in Portlaoise Prison which mainly houses subversive and other high security prisoners and is not suitable for the general population. Cloverhill as a remand prison accounted for the balance. Taking these factors into the account the prison system currently operates at or in excess of full capacity for sentenced prisoners with some overcrowding remaining in certain prisons.

The Deputy will be aware that, as an attempt to address the spiralling prisons overtime bill, the Government agreed to the mothballing of the places of detention at Fort Mitchell and the Curragh during 2004. These institutions each provided space for 102 inmates. However, the transfer of staff from these institutions allowed for the opening of new landings at Limerick and Midlands Prison which almost completely offset this loss in accommodation space. The future of both institutions is under continuous review and any decision on this issue will have regard to the ongoing discussions between the Irish Prison Service and the Prison Officers' Association.

Shanganagh Castle, which provided capacity for up to 60 young offenders, ceased to operate as a place of detention in December 2002. The reasons for this decision have been set out on many occasions in the past.

It is clear that there is a need for new prison spaces for a number of reasons including the need to eliminate overcrowding in a number of our committal prisons, in particular, Mountjoy Prison, the Dóchas centre and Castlerea Prison. It is also my wish to replace outdated prison accommodation with new facilities which will eliminate the practice of "slopping out" and also reduce the "doubling up" which is prevalent throughout the system. As part of this process, I can confirm that a total of 150 new spaces are being provided in the new Portlaoise "C Block" which is due to be completed in 2007. I can also advise the Deputy that estimates of future space requirements are being refined in the context of planning for the development of the new prison complexes at north County Dublin and Spike Island.

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