Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister has admitted the State has never before engaged in a public private partnership process for the building of a prison. He has refused to explain the design element and sought comfort in the excuse that security issues are involved. Will he elaborate on this?

Several issues arise as regards the maintenance of the prison and require explanation. What will its maintenance by private builders mean in the running of the prison, contracts for works and services? How will this impact on the day to day operation of the prison? How can it be guaranteed for those in the prison, both prisoners and workers, that services in operation on the first day will not be allowed disintegrate, considering the Department or the Irish Prison Service would not appear to have any responsibility, engagement or involvement in the maintenance of this prison? This is a worrying aspect.

I refer to a matter that has not been mentioned, which is the provision of health services. Mountjoy Prison, St. Patrick's Institution and Dóchas are in close proximity to the Mater Hospital and there has always been an active engagement between them. Portlaoise Prison and the Midlands Prison are across the road from the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise and similarly there has been active engagement between the two. Having regard to what has been said earlier about the roads and the remoteness of the proposed prison location, what arrangements will be set in train to ensure a proper and adequate medical service for those who may wish to avail of it or for those who need it?

Regrettably the Minister did not answer my question as to the reason consideration was not given towards extending Dóchas. I recently visited a constituent in Dóchas who was imprisoned for a civil matter. She informed me that before she was transported by gardaí from her home in County Laois to the prison, she was visited on two occasions by two different officials of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as she is a farmer. They inquired as to the welfare of her livestock and her cattle. This was a woman whose daughter is sitting the leaving certificate and whose other 12 year-old daughter has special needs but nobody from the social services called nor anyone from the health services nor any other Department, other than two officials expressing concern as to the welfare of the cattle. This is the type of prison regime under the Minister's stewardship. It is disgraceful that any woman or citizen of this State should be treated in such a manner. Why has the Minister opted not to extend Dóchas, which by all accounts is a prison of acceptable standard where best international practice obtains? He is now casting it into the wilderness by moving women out, against international best practice, into Thornton Hall.

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