Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 4: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform his views on prison overcrowding, particularly at Mountjoy Prison, Dublin; and the steps he proposes to take to address this issue. [13375/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. Thanks to the extra resources provided by this Government, the Garda Síochána has been increasingly successful in prosecuting criminals and extra court sittings have resulted in higher committal rates. There are over 1,000 more criminals in prison today than there were in 2006.

I am looking at non-custodial sanctions and taking legislative initiatives to reduce the number of committals to prison for less serious matters such as civil debt and non-payment of fines. However, approximately 80% of convicted prisoners in custody at any one time are in prison for relatively serious offences and are serving sentences of more than 12 months.

Overcrowding in prisons is an international problem and not unique to Ireland. The Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an ongoing extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure to modernise and expand our capacity. Since 1997 in excess of 1,670 new prison spaces have been provided. A further 250 spaces will be provided by means of a new block in Wheatfield Prison and the reopening of the separation unit in Mountjoy. Work is also expected to commence this year on a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise Midlands prison complex which will provide 300 prison spaces.

Turning to the issue of overcrowding at Mountjoy specifically, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to developing a new prison campus at Thornton Hall and also approved the launch of a new tendering process for the construction of a more affordable and better value prison campus at Thornton. The aim is to provide good quality regime-focused prison accommodation with appropriate support and rehabilitative facilities for prisoners to prepare them for reintegration into society. The primary purpose of Thornton is to replace the Mountjoy complex, which currently holds over 1,100 prisoners in four institutions on a 20 acre site. Thornton will be a campus development with approximately 1,400 cells on a 130 acre site. The new prison facility will have operational flexibility to accommodate up to 2,200 in a range of security settings.

The tenders for the construction of the access road will be issued in the near future with a tender competition for the construction of the perimeter wall to follow later this year. Work on preparation for the invitation to tender for the construction of the main prison development is under way. Our focus is on replacing the outdated and outmoded accommodation in the Mountjoy complex by the Thornton project. However, that project will not be finalised for some years and in the interim we are providing additional facilities in our other prisons to help relieve the pressure on numbers in Mountjoy Prison.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

With reference to Mountjoy Prison, is the Minister aware that the capacity is exceeded on a regular basis? Currently, there is a weekly average of 660 inmates in Mountjoy. What are the Minister's views on his statement last year, in consultation with the director of the Irish Prison Service, when the intention was to keep the number at Mountjoy at 600? I remind the Minister of the report of the Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, which called for numbers to be kept at 540.

What steps are being taken to deal with the severe overcrowding in Mountjoy that has resulted in the civil courts recently granting damages in excess of €10,000 to persons because they witnessed a riot in Mountjoy? I put it to the Minister that it is completely unacceptable that persons are being awarded civil damages and compensation from the State in that amount as a result of overcrowding in the prison system. When does the Minister propose to deal with the situation in Mountjoy in a way that would be acceptable in the context of the national and international standards that apply in respect of prisons?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It would be wrong to say that a riot in Mountjoy or any other prison occurred as a result of overcrowding. I have received strong information to the effect that as a result of the tightened security arrangements that apply in respect of those entering and leaving prisons, tensions have arisen among inmates because it is no longer possible to smuggle what used to be smuggled into prisons. The Government and the Prison Service should be complimented in respect of this matter.

The position in respect of Mountjoy is a cause of concern to the Government. That is they reason we have increased the number of spaces dramatically. As already stated, I am not satisfied to wait for the Thornton Hall project because I am of the view that it will take a couple of years to complete. It must be stated that our efforts in respect of the original project at Thornton Hall were opposed at every turn by those on the other side of the House. I would like the facility at Thornton Hall to come on stream sooner rather than later.

As I informed the staff of my Department and of the Prison Service, it is extremely important that we deal with this matter on a short and medium-term basis. It is for this reason that the Prison Service has been given authority to proceed with the provision, hopefully in the not too distant future, of 300 additional places at the Portlaoise midlands complex. In the short term, 200 additional places are expected to come on stream at Wheatfield Prison and at the separation unit in Mountjoy. We will keep the situation under review. I am of the opinion that there must there must be an interim solution as well as the long-term solution that is Thornton Hall.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to ask the Minister a specific question and perhaps, for a change, he might provide a specific reply. What is the current timeframe, if any, in respect of the completion of the Thornton Hall project?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I cannot provide an exact date in that regard. As already stated, however, if we had received some co-operation from those on the opposite side of the House and if they had not engaged in offering snide comments with regard to all sorts of alleged shenanigans on our part, the prison might perhaps have been completed some time ago.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

How was the Opposition responsible for the delays relating to the Thornton Hall project?

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Exactly. We facilitated the passage of the relevant legislation.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputies and their parties opposed the project at every turn.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We must proceed to the next question.

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

All sorts of allegations were made to the effect that the Government paid too much for the site, etc.

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That which the Minister is uttering is a fairytale. We facilitated a late sitting in order that the legislation might be passed.