Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

There is a cohesive project in place which brings all prison governors together, and they meet regularly with the people who are charged with the security and management of the service. These prison officers are front-line staff; we can never dismiss what they tell us, and we will always have to take account of it. During my address today to the Prison Officers' Association, I announced that a new prison is to be built in Cork. Cork Prison, as people know, is grossly overcrowded. It is hoped the new prison will be up and running within the next two years. That will happen. There will be accommodation not only for the people who are already in that prison but also for additional numbers. In addition, the capital building programme in the area of justice has received significant additional moneys this year. As long as we are successful in incarcerating gangs, gang members and their leaders, we will have this problem. I accept what the POA has said and what the Deputy stated in regard to how we manage this situation. We must keep a very close eye on it. I agreed with the president of the POA today that I would convey to the Minister, Deputy Shatter, three of the association's demands, including for an ombudsman and for an independent monitor to examine how action might be better co-ordinated. I will do so.

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