Written answers

Tuesday, 12 April 2005

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Prison Reports

9:00 pm

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent to which the reports which have been submitted to him by Mr. Justice Kinlen have been implemented by him in an effective and speedy manner; the reasons for the delay in implementing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10892/05]

Photo of Jim O'KeeffeJim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 751: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of 22 March 2005, the recommendations in the Kinlen reports published to date which he has implemented; and the timescale for the implementation of the other recommendations made in the reports. [10902/05]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 751 together.

The Inspector of Prisons and Places of Detention has made a considerable number of recommendations in his reports aimed at improving prison services and conditions. The position as of end-2003 in regard to implementation of the inspector's earlier recommendations is set out in detail in the Irish Prison Service Annual Report 2003, which was published last year. A copy of that report is in the Oireachtas Library. The status of implementation of the inspector's more recent recommendations will be similarly addressed in the service's 2004 annual report which will be published in the coming months.

Overall, I am satisfied that the inspector's recommendations are being implemented on an ongoing basis as circumstances and resources allow. This is particularly the case in respect of the more straightforward recommendations such as appointment of additional psychologists, improvements to prison accommodation, provision of additional safety and other equipment, improvements in record-keeping and measures to frustrate the efforts of people who seek to make illicit drugs available to prisoners. Progress towards implementation of other more complex recommendations such as the replacement of Mountjoy and Portlaoise prisons and the provision of new library, medical and other facilities at Limerick Prison is ongoing. Construction of the new accommodation at Limerick Prison is under way and tenders are under consideration for provision of new prisoner accommodation at Portlaoise Prison as part of the next phase of redevelopment there. A contract was recently concluded for purchase of a site for a new prison complex to replace the existing prisons on the Mountjoy campus.

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