Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2011
380 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the recent judicial inquiry recommendations into conditions at Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, with respect to the installation of proper toilet facilities before Christmas will be implemented; and his views on the recent finding that the slopping out practice has been adjudged a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights by the Strasbourg Court. [25704/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the European Convention on Human Rights finding which relates to a Scottish case. However I have no knowledge of any recent judicial enquiry recommendations on conditions in Mountjoy Prison.
I can assure the Deputy however that the Government is committed to the elimination of slopping out in all prisons and places of detention. The Programme for Government, includes the objective to provide in-cell sanitation to all prisons, and in so far as resources permit, to upgrade prison facilities where possible.
As things stand, I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that 72% of prisoner accommodation has in-cell sanitation at present. This will rise to in excess of 80% when the extension currently under construction in the Midlands Prison is opened in 2012.
A refurbishment project is also nearing completion in the basement of the C-wing at Mountjoy Prison which will result in an additional 36 cells with in-cell sanitation coming on stream by October, 2011. In addition, work has commenced on a project to provide in-cell sanitation in the remaining 74 cells on the same wing which is expected to be completed by the end of the October, 2011. Depending on the findings of a post project appraisal, the Irish Prison Service will consider installing in-cell sanitation facilities in the remaining cells of Mountjoy and indeed to other facilities that do not have in-cell sanitation.
The Irish Prison Service also has toilet patrols in operation until late evening in Mountjoy, Cork and Limerick Prisons with staff rostered to provide this function after final lock in the evenings. Prisoners requesting to use toilet facilities after these times are accommodated where possible. The possibility of extending toilet patrols is being further examined by the Irish Prison Service.
