Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this matter. The Defence Forces camp at Kilworth, County Cork, has been designated as the location for a prison covering Munster and it will replace facilities at Cork Prison in particular. The proposed location of the prison will be within the 1,200 acre camp located close to the M8 motorway between Mitchelstown and Fermoy and it is destined to house up to 450 prisoners. On Monday last, the residents of the immediate area called public representatives to a meeting to discuss the proposals and to air their genuine concerns. In seeking this Adjournment debate, I wish to speak about a number of those concerns. Given that this prison will be constructed under the terms of the strategic infrastructure legislation, there is genuine concern that local residents' fears will not be addressed. The construction of such a large prison within a very rural area raises a number of fears. For example, landowners who leased land from the Department of Defence for agricultural purposes now wonder where their future lies. They had a long-standing arrangement and have asked will they be able to stay on the land or will this scenario change.

People have also asked whether the land acquisition process for the prison has been completed. If not, there is a strong school of thought within the community that the footprint of the prison should be moved to a more suitable location within the overall landholding. The community also believe the prison should be constructed within contours that make it more suitable. It is strongly perceived that the current proposal, as we understand it, is a site within 162 acres. If the land acquisition is not completed, residents believe that the case could be made for the prison to be moved, even if that is beyond the current 162-acre footprint.

From an environmental point of view, there are concerns that three streams within the footprint of the proposal will be compromised. The area in question is served by the Killally, Ballinrush and Graigue group water scheme. The source of this scheme is approximate to the footprint of the site.

The Minister, in response to a question I tabled on Thursday last, stated that normal planning provisions do not apply to a prison development. There is an understanding that for security reasons one does not broadcast or make known the exact plans. We all acknowledge that fact, but further concerns have been raised about the transport provisions to and from the prison. People in the nearby village of Kilworth, where at times traffic causes a bottleneck, are seeking, through their community council, assurances on the traffic management provisions of the proposals. They also seek a buffer zone around the prison from an aesthetic and security point of view.

Those who live in Cork city are used to the presence of a prison within their city. The construction of a prison of this nature in a very rural area would give rise to genuine causes for concern and anxiety.

If the proposal is being presented as a fait accompli and is not subject to normal planning considerations, I respectfully ask the Minister to ensure any provisions relating to public safety and environmental concerns are addressed. To assist the community further, I respectfully request of the Minister and his officials that he would meet a deputation of residents and public representatives in the area so they can have their concerns addressed at an early stage.

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