Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 995: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the terms of reference given to the expert committee charged with finding a new prison site to relocate Mountjoy Prison; if he is satisfied that the committee complied with the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25261/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The committee was established to draw up and apply a matrix of objective criteria to assess the suitability of sites for the development of a prison facility to replace the Mountjoy complex and to short list a number of suitable sites for consideration by me.

I am satisfied with the work of the committee and pleased that a suitable site with considerable potential for development has been located and acquired. It will allow me to press ahead with the modernisation of prison facilities in the Dublin area and, in particular, will allow us end the practice of prisoners slopping out.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 996: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for choosing to acquire a prison site by open tender at a cost considerably greater than market value rather than using compulsory purchase order powers to acquire the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25262/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I completely reject the suggestion that a prison site has been purchased at a cost considerably greater than the market value. Moreover, I have at present no statutory powers to acquire sites or land for the construction of new prison facilities through compulsory purchase orders. However, this is a matter I am reviewing.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 997: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a Government official approached the owner of Thornton Hall to suggest the site be proffered as a candidate site for the relocation of Mountjoy Prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25263/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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No official under my direction either in the Department or in the Prison Service made such an approach and, to the best of my knowledge, no official from any other Department or agency made such an approach either.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 998: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with the conduct of the expert committee charged with finding a new prison site to relocate Mountjoy Prison considering that one of the committee members (details supplied) identified, negotiated and arranged a survey of the chosen site even though the site was not offered to the committee by the normal mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25264/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am totally satisfied with the conduct of all members of the committee, including advisers, and I reject any criticism of their conduct. No committee member or adviser identified the site. It was submitted by an agent for the vendor. A technical assessment of the site was carried out through the Office of Public Works on the same basis as that which applied to the other sites considered by the committee.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 999: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he visited Thornton Hall prior to accepting the expert committee's recommendation that it be chosen as the replacement site for Mountjoy; if he has visited the site since then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25265/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I did not personally visit the site but was fully briefed on all matters relating to it and was provided with large-scale maps and aerial photographs.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 1000: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will estimate the costs of providing access road, water mains, power supplies and foul sewerage to Thornton Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25266/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Preliminary estimates of the cost of servicing the Thornton Hall site were prepared as part of the detailed site evaluation process which was carried out by engineering consultants on a number of sites. This placed the total estimated cost of providing mains water, foul sewer and power, including gas and electricity, to the site at €8.5 million. This figure is similar to the level of costs associated with many of the other sites assessed.

Regarding the matter of road access, the existing access road has been assessed as adequate by the site evaluation report. The report did, however, recommend some improvements to and upgrading of the road which will be pursued following consultations with the appropriate authorities.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 1001: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if any estimate has been made with regard to the increased cost of transporting prisoners from Thornton Hall to the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25267/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I assure the Deputy that appropriate arrangements will be put in place to deal with the transporting of prisoners to the courts. These measures will also deal with hospital visits, visitors and all other transport needs.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 1002: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if any consultations have been held with the Department of Health and Children or the Health Service Executive with regard to the effects of relocating Mountjoy Prison from the city centre to north County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25268/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Specific consultations were not held with the Health Service Executive in this regard. The Minister for Health and Children was consulted on the general proposal to acquire a site for a development to replace the Mountjoy Prison complex in the context of the Government decision. The site selection committee did have regard to the location of emergency services, including hospitals, when considering the location of the site at Thornton Hall.