Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming in. I tabled this matter in order that he might provide a detailed plan and outline for the construction and delivery of the Thornton Hall prison. The overcrowding in prisons is nothing short of a crisis. The most recent figures show there are currently more than 730 prisoners in custody without bed space. The latter represents a 40% increase since January. This continues to lead to inhumane conditions where prisoners are sleeping on mattresses on floors and the risk of violence and health issues is ever present. The Irish Penal Reform Trust has repeatedly highlighted these issues, yet we see little progress being made in addressing them.

Thornton Hall is supposed to be the solution to the crisis. The site, which has cost the taxpayer €50 million so far, was intended for a new state-of-the-art prison facility. Despite this significant investment, however, it has been plagued by delays and mismanagement. The latest proposal to convert part of the site into an international protection accommodation centre is a clear indication of Government's failure to prioritise our prison system. Twenty years after the site being purchased, we must ask why the project there has not been completed. Why has work not even started? The need for additional prison capacity is undeniable. The revolving door system whereby prisoners are released within 24 hours due to overcrowding makes a mockery of our justice system. It does a disservice to the victims of crime and undermines public confidence in our ability to maintain law and order. Furthermore, the attempt to convert Thornton Hall to an international protection accommodation, IPA, centre is misguided. Accommodating new arrivals should not come at the expense of addressing domestic issues. The site was purchased with the intention of alleviating prison overcrowding and it should be used for that purpose. To this end, I ask the Minister outline to what extent the State plans to use the site for IPA and how it plans to balance this with prison construction.

Previously, I have highlighted the staggering costs associated with this project. Besides the price of the land, we have spent €114,000 over the past three years alone on what is effectively an empty site, yet we still have nothing to show for it. This is gross mismanagement of taxpayers' money. We need a clear timeline for the construction and delivery of Thornton Hall prison. The Government must commit to completing this project and ensuring that our prison system can operate effectively and humanely. I call on the Minister for Justice to provide a definite answer on when Thornton Hall will be built. We cannot continue to ignore the pressing issue of prison overcrowding. It is time for decisive action to ensure that our justice system functions as it should.