Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I agree with the Deputy. It is important that we provide a safe environment. I would like drug-free spaces to be allocated in every prison. I would like prisoners who are addicted to drugs to have every opportunity to come off them, rather than merely substituting methadone for them. A substantial portion of the prison population are on methadone. I am examining what reforms I can introduce in the prison system within the limited resources available to me. I look forward to the completion of the Thornton Hall project review and the recommendations that will be made. The terms of reference given to the group working on the review go beyond simply commenting on whether a prison should be built at that location. The report will inform how we proceed within the financial resources available. If it is published on time, as it should be, I expect and hope the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will have an opportunity to consider and debate it before the House begins its summer recess.

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