Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 69: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will reopen the Curragh Prison, Fort Mitchel or Spike Island in view of the fact that the industrial relations dispute has ended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29763/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that the Government approved a series of measures on 11 November 2003 in the event of failure to reach agreement with the Prison Officers' Association on the change agenda aimed at eliminating overtime payments and reducing other costs in the Irish Prison Service.

These measures included the mothballing of both Fort Mitchel place of detention and the Curragh place of detention. Throughout the negotiation process I made my position clear, that the present cost structure of the Prison Service could not be sustained and that in the event that agreement could not be reached on a mutually acceptable way forward, then both institutions would be closed. Following the rejection by staff of the proposal for organisational change I was left with no option but to close these institutions permanently in order to control costs.

In the course of discussions on refloating the proposal for organisational change with minor revisions, I again made it clear that the decision on the closures of the Curragh and Fort Mitchel was irreversible. The Deputy will be aware that a new modern southern prison will be built on Spike Island to replace Cork Prison. The recent acceptance by staff of the revised proposal for organisational change holds out the real prospect of an efficient and more cost effective Prison Service into the future. Implementation of the agreed arrangements is proceeding apace and I am optimistic that the changes involved will herald a new era in the Prison Service which will work to the benefit of both management and staff.