Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minster of State for outlining the current position so lucidly. I welcome in particular the flexibility he has indicated will apply. It is very important.

Kilsallaghan is one of the very few parts of the greater Dublin with which I am familiar. It is in a most beautiful rural setting and is well known to those who follow the horse races, including the Cathaoirleach. It was for many years the home of the great Arkle when he was in training.

Having been involved in planning for 25 years with Kerry County Council, I realise that if the proposed massive development were to be lobbed into any part of counties Kerry, Cork of Clare, the hullabaloo that would ensue would be out of this world. The rigours of the planning process in the counties with which I am familiar are such that such a development would not be allowed to proceed. However, it is proceeding at the proposed site and we welcome it because it is important.

I know many of the residents in the area in question and they have legitimate concerns. Senator O'Toole stated there will be over 1,000 inmates and I suppose there will be as many staff. In effect, the prison will be the size of a small provincial town, all to be located in a tranquil area. There is a fear of the unknown in that the development will not be like a factory or housing development. No-one knows what will happen and there are occasionally bad stories and experiences associated with prisons.

Any reasonable request the residents are making should be met by way of negotiation. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State agrees with this. It is proposed to erect a perimeter wall 7 m in height, which is fairly forbidding. Most of houses in the region have an average height of 3 m or 4 m. It is proposed to push back the perimeter by 10 m but 50 m would be far more realistic. There is sufficient space to allow for this and it can be done if there is sufficient will.

If people, especially the elderly and long-term residents, feel unhappy and stressed over the prison, perhaps the Minister of State should enter buy-out negotiations with them, if they so desire.