Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. Many good points have already been made, particularly regarding community service and attachment of earnings. I believe many people are in prison as a result of relatively small debts and it is hugely expensive to keep them there. I did not hear mention of tagging, which is a feature of other justice systems. In addition, are we going to use restorative justice programmes?

I am disappointed with the question of doubling up, and I share the concerns expressed by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice that doubling up leads to drug abuse, violence and intimidation, and, as in the Gary Douch case, to death. The distinguished former Senator T.K. Whitaker recommended single cells, ready access to toilet facilities, which is being provided, and 12 hours out of the cell, although the Minister of State said only six hours out of the cell is proposed, if I heard her correctly. When we talk of keeping national rules, I believe we should refer to European rules because I fear some of the national rules in such areas are too lax. We must aim for higher standards.

The cost of the project is not stated, but we need to know the cost per place. There must be concerns about cost consciousness in this area, given the experience with Thornton Hall, which proved to be one of the most massively costly acquisitions of a piece of farmland in the history of farmland. It would help if more of that data was included, because all Departments must be conscious of costs these days, including the Department of Justice and Equality.

It is important that we consider alternatives and aim for the decarceration of society, as Senator Bacik mentioned. Was consideration given to the large number of other premises we are selling off, such as the barracks in Clonmel and Mullingar? How did this project get to be at the top of the list? I know there was a prison there before, but the economics of this require scrutiny. How do our costs per prisoner compare with those in other jurisdictions?