Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The difficulty is with regard to Portlaoise and also to Mountjoy and the proximity of hospitals. They have been endeavouring to get around that problem and have had some success. Mountjoy is a particular problem; Portlaoise is not. The inhibition system is being extended into the new C block at Portlaoise and also to the nearby segregation unit. A contract to provide an inhibition system at those locations within Portlaoise Prison was signed on 12 March and works are now due to be completed and the system commissioned on 20 July. Other tests are undertaken in other prison locations such as Mountjoy medical unit, Limerick A wing and Cloverhill D1. The system in Limerick has been installed and is being evaluated since January. The medical unit in Mountjoy has been commissioned since 29 June and is currently undergoing evaluation. A company is due to commence installation in Cloverhill of the inhibition system shortly and works are expected to be completed by the end of July 2009. The intention is that particular prisoners who would be suspected of directing crime from within prison would be housed as much as possible in those prisons or parts of prisons where mobile phones have been successfully inhibited.

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