Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At times I feel I might have more freedom in there than I have in here. Residents have made submissions to the rapporteur and there have been broader consultations with the community. There is already a prison on the Rathmore Road with military barracks adjoining it. Any development must take into account the impact it will have on residents, including during the construction phase. It will be a large construction site for many years. As construction is set to commence in 2013 and end in 2016, there could be three years of heavy construction work in a residential area. I urge the Minister to use his good offices to ensure there is a good-neighbour policy and the liaison officer genuinely engages with the local residents, the local authority and An Garda Síochána to ensure there is a proper traffic management system and that other issues of concern are dealt with during construction. I understand the pressures on contractors when building, including working late hours etc., but they need to be cognisant that this is located in a residential community. The structure will have an impact on residents in Brandon Crescent and elsewhere and I hope the liaison officer and the good-neighbour policy will work efficiently to ensure the needs of residents are met to the greatest possible extent while constructing a facility that is necessary to ensure prisoners have an element of dignity while incarcerated.

We do not oppose the motion and the confirming Bill under Part 4 of the Prisons Act 2007. We understand the need for security. When people are talking about prisons, all we can talk about are the outer cordons as such being aesthetically attractive and not excessively impacting on neighbourhoods and communities. For all those reasons, I urge the Minister to do what he can to ensure it is seen as a positive development for those serving time in prison and for family members visiting them. We do not place sufficient emphasis on that critical aspect. At the end of the day, many families are heartbroken to have a loved one incarcerated in prison and often they blame themselves. The dignity and respect for families visiting prisoners must be included in this plan, accepting the need for security.

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