Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the recent report of the Inspector of Prisons on St. Patrick's Institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16138/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I welcome the inspector's comprehensive report on St. Patrick's Institution and I concur entirely with the report's principal finding that, despite the best efforts of many people, there is an urgent need to replace that institution with a modern facility which will have the range and level of services required to meet the needs of young people in custody. That is why I am determined to press ahead as quickly as possible with the provision of new modern custodial accommodation on a site at Thornton, County Dublin to replace all the outdated institutions on the existing Mountjoy complex, including St. Patrick's Institution.

The intention is that 16 and 17 year old boys detained in St. Patrick's Institution will, in future, be accommodated in a stand-alone facility, which will cater exclusively for this age group. I have asked the director general of the Irish Prison Service to consider how best to meet the custodial needs of the older inmates of St. Patrick's Institution — 18 to 21 year olds — in the context of development of the Thornton site.

There are three matters raised in the inspector's report which I wish to address specifically. First, the closure of the two workshops, woodwork and metalwork, at St. Patrick's Institution is indeed regrettable but it has to be said that, between them, those workshops accommodated only 12 boys whereas, following renovation, the workshops will provide training in computer, painting and decorating skills for a total of 22 boys. It was hoped to have the workshops back in operation by now but this has not been possible because of the rejection by the Prison Officers' Association of the proposal for organisational change in the Irish Prison Service.

Second, it is not the case that taxpayers' money has been squandered in the works that were undertaken initially to adapt part of St. Patrick's Institution as a special facility for 14 and 15 year old children. Those works involved complete refurbishment of all three levels of the 'B' wing of the institution, the provision of new classrooms, renovation of the recreation yard and the provision of new administration facilities. All of these facilities are fully in use other than the new classrooms, which will come into operation as soon as agreement is reached on staffing arrangements with the Prison Officers' Association. While the decision has been made to replace St. Patrick's Institution with modern accommodation on the new site at Thornton, I am satisfied that, pending its replacement, very many young people are benefiting and will continue to benefit from the improvements made.

Third, I am most concerned at the allegations of bullying and harassment of inmates at St. Patrick's Institution as I take very seriously the responsibility to ensure safe custody and care of all young people detained there. When the bullying problem was brought to my attention prior to the inspector's visit, I established that much of the problem stems from inmates who bully others in their efforts to get illicit drugs into the institution. A number of measures have been taken to counter the drugs problem, including the introduction of new visiting arrangements and provision of closer-weave netting over the recreation yard. The Governor has given an assurance that each and every specific allegation of bullying which is made to him will be fully investigated.