Dáil debates

Tuesday, 27 May 2008

Prison Building Programme: Motion

 

6:00 pm

Photo of Michael D'ArcyMichael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)

On a number of occasions, I had the opportunity to visit Mountjoy with community school students who were studying in transition year. The prison officers used to ask if we would like the rough or smooth version of the tour, but there was only a rough version. On that basis, therefore, I welcome the principle of new prison facilities for inmates. I agree with previous speakers who referred to the Dóchas women's facility. There was some hope there and whoever named it, did so appropriately. However, it would be a retrograde step to relocate that prison to Thornton Hall.

A new planning permission process has been used for the development of this facility. Local people will have an opportunity to make observations but unfortunately, as with other State developments, they tend to be just that — observations and nothing else. It is a token gesture for local people whose lives will certainly be changed when a quiet backwater will accommodate up to 2,200 inmates on that site, along with a Garda station and other developments. The synergy of that area will never be the same again. The Minister should take the observations of local residents on board. A development of that size should not proceed without their views being considered.

The cost of the site has been mentioned at €40 million for 150 plus acres. Speaking as a farmer, it is cracked; nobody in their right mind would ever consider paying that price for that amount of land.

As regards the PPP, the McNamara group has not been named but I am naming it now. It has attempted to withdraw from €900 million worth of PPP housing contracts with local authorities in Dublin city. I question how somebody is attempting to take the opportunity to withdraw from a housing PPP worth €900 million and then becomes the preferred bidder for Thornton Hall. I wonder if there is a penalty for that. Can he just walk away with impunity or take his risk with the courts? Perhaps the State will not pursue those PPP contracts. It is a crazy scenario whereby somebody can say: "There's a bit of a risk there guys. I'm not that interested, but I'll go with the Thornton Hall deal because the risk is much lower as the State will be paying me." The PPP deals are certainly a cash crop for developers who get paid every month for costings, professional fees, maintenance and their margin. When one consults the record of the McNamara group in recent years, one can see that it has won five of seven PPP housing deals. He has been hugely successful in other projects throughout the State in recent years. There is a perception that if McNamara is in for this — in particular where there is a low risk — he will get it. We need to scrutinise and analyse how one person can be hugely successful in those matters.

As regards any version of the Tallaght strategy for the prison service, Fine Gael is willing to accommodate the proposed prison services if our amendments are considered on Committee Stage. In such a case, we would be in favour of these new prison places. However, women and minors should not be relocated on this site under any circumstances.

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