Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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192. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the improvements that have been implemented since the Committee for the Prevention of Torture which visited Cork Prison in 2010 found visiting conditions at the prison to be wholly unsuitable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32617/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, legislation to give development consent for a new prison facility for Cork city was recently approved by this House and is now awaiting consideration by the Seanad.  The main purpose of the new prison facility is to replace the substandard prison accommodation in Cork and to provide a modern prison designed on the principles of rehabilitation and resettlement. The visiting  arrangements in the new prison will reflect that design philosophy.

I am advised by the Director General of the Irish Prison Service that four small visiting boxes were installed in Cork Prison in 2011. These visiting boxes cater for professional visits as well as general visits to prisoners. In addition, the Irish Prison Service is currently reviewing the visiting facilities across the prison estate to see what measures can be taken to improve the visiting arrangements having regard to operational and security requirements and available resources. I can assure the Deputy that Cork Prison is being  given priority in that regard.