Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The technology to inhibit the use of mobile phones is currently nearing completion in the midlands prison. It will then be evaluated and rolled-out across the prison estate. Prison numbers in the State have increased. At one stage the numbers were artificially low because of the revolving door mechanism. This Government and previous Governments, of which I have been a member, have endeavoured to ensure we do not have a revolving door mechanism. What was happening was that prisoners were being released to make room for new committals. The number of prisoners has increased because of that and because of longer sentences, particularly life sentences. The sentences being served by life prisoners have been increased to fairly significant levels.

The capacity of Thornton Hall is based on the study carried out by the Irish Prison Service on projected prison numbers for the period 2005-13. We need this new development to proceed as quickly as possible if we are to avoid problems of overcrowding. Irrespective of Members' views, I know they do not want overcrowding in our prisons. I would welcome the support of all sides to allow us to proceed with the development in Thornton Hall.

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