Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In general, land prices have gone up from under €5,000 per acre ten years ago to about €14,000 per acre now. That is the going rate rather than the prices which have been mentioned. Sometimes trying to relocate a prison is difficult while at other times relocation is welcomed. I was Minister for Finance some years ago when a prison was opened in Roscommon. People were very glad to see the prison there, with employment and other knock-on effects of the move.

Deputy Sargent will agree that Mountjoy Prison, with the exception of the women's prison which is a new building, has long outlived its use. It has been condemned in report after report as not being suitable to deal with the population it has and not having the kind of facilities which are required.

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