James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to tackle overcrowding, unhygienic conditions and infestations of insects at Mountjoy Prison, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21061/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is aware Mountjoy Prison is a Victorian prison which is now 160 years old. Redeveloping the existing 20 acre site is neither financially viable nor practical from an operational perspective and this is why I have set out in the clearest possible terms this Government's continued commitment to replacing the Mountjoy Prison complex with modern prison accommodation at Thornton Hall. While I accept that conditions in Mountjoy Prison are not ideal I do not accept that conditions are inhumane. In-cell sanitation is already in place in sections of the "B" Base, throughout the Medical Unit and in the Separation Unit of the prison. The question of a major refurbishment of the complex to include in-cell sanitation in all cells has been examined on a number of occasions but found not to be feasible due to the potential exorbitant costs of such a project involving buildings which are already 160 years old.

While Mountjoy Prison predominantly comprises single cell accommodation multiple cell occupancy does exist, particularly in the base area of the prison and some other areas. I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that they have comprehensive pest control procedures in place throughout the prison estate. These are carried out under contract by reputable firms specialising in the field. In the case of the Mountjoy Prison Complex, the contract is held by Canore Limited and it is the view of the Irish Prison Service that the procedures in place are adequate. The current contract commenced on 1 October 2009.

The Inspector of Prisons, in his 2008 Annual Report, acknowledged that overcrowding in prisons is an international problem, not just unique to Ireland. As I have stated to the House on many occasions since 1997 in excess of 1,720 new prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick, Portlaoise and Castlerea prisons and at the open centres in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House. It must be acknowledged that the Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces.

Current projects will see a further 200 prison spaces provided in the short term by means of a new block in Wheatfield. In addition, we hope to proceed in late 2010 with a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise/Midlands prisons complex which will provide 300 prison spaces in the medium term.

The new prison campus at Thornton Hall, County Dublin will provide 1,400 cells with operational flexibility to accommodate up to 2,200 in a range of security settings. The development is now proceeding on a phased basis with phase one comprising essential enabling works required for the development including the construction of the dedicated access road, perimeter wall and off-site services. Tenders for the construction of the access road were published in March of this year and tenders for the construction of the perimeter wall will be published in September.

Phase 2 will include the development of the main prison campus. The detailed appraisal is underway in accordance with Department of Finance Capital Expenditure Guidelines and the new business case is at an advanced stage of preparation. It is anticipated that the prison will be operational within 3 years from the commencement of the construction of the main prison campus.