John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)

I will call on the Deputies who tabled questions to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the order in which they submitted their questions to my office.

Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans for the replacement of Mountjoy Prison and the provision of additional prison places in view of the decision not to proceed with the proposed new prison complex at Thornton Hall, County Dublin.

Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances surrounding the collapse of negotiations with the preferred bidder for the Thornton Hall prison project; the costs incurred by the State in regard to the project; his plans for the Thornton Hall site; his further plans to provide additional prison places in view of the recent warnings from an association (details supplied) of the consequences of continued overcrowding in prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on the implications of the decision to postpone the construction of the prison at Thornton Hall on the transfer of the Central Mental Hospital to the site; and if the decision to locate the hospital at this site will be revisited in view of the reduction in the value of the grounds of the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, County Dublin and the expert views of the Mental Health Commission and others.

Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on whether public private partnerships are a suitable form of delivery for justice and other social projects in view of developments in regard to his plans for a super-prison at Thornton Hall and the €40 million of taxpayers' money that has already been spent; the steps he will take to address the aspects of existing prison stock without further delay and to address the overcrowding which puts the health, safety and lives of prisoners and prison staff at risk; if these steps will include legislative and policy changes to remove more non-violent offenders from the prison system; the position regarding the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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