Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

When the Minister for Agriculture and Food answered questions earlier, she told us that one fifth of all farm land is now leased. As we know, one of the reasons is that the cost of purchasing farm land is so exorbitant. Does the Taoiseach and his Government accept some of the responsibility in this regard? One area in rural County Dublin has a price tag of €200,000 per acre based on the plans for the relocation of Mountjoy Prison. Does the Taoiseach accept that the price of €30 million for 150 acres is considerably more than the going rate of €17,000 per acre? Even with a compulsory purchase order, the National Roads Authority would pay a maximum of €24,000 per acre after capital gains tax. Does the Taoiseach accept that a serious problem is being created by taking the eye off the ball when it comes to agricultural land acquisition for which the Government is responsible?

Is that fiasco not being compounded by the second annual report of the inspector of prisons, which was published recently? That indicated that relocation was not the only option, even through the inspector, Mr. Kinlan, wrote that he had witnessed very low standards in the running of prisons. Whom does the Taoiseach hold responsible for this? Does he regard the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as being responsible for driving this relocation project, for placing no limit on the money that could be spent on it and for not seeking an environmental impact assessment on such a large site, which would be normal practice? Does the Taoiseach also regard the Minister as being responsible for not investigating the breach of normal procurement procedures when a member of the extended family, who was the special adviser, was found to be related to the vendor of the site? Would he regard the Minister as being responsible for stigmatising people with mental illness who, in the Central Mental Hospital, will find themselves living beside Mountjoy Prison if it is relocated? The Taoiseach should investigate this matter and put it on hold. Will he do so?

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