Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the practice of slopping out is still in place in prisons; the timeframe in which he estimates that slopping out will be completely eliminated from all institutions here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4483/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Approximately 72% of prisoners in custody now have 24-hour access to in-cell sanitation thanks to substantial investment in the prison estate since 1997.

I plan to eliminate the practice of slopping out completely. This will require the replacement of Mountjoy and Cork prisons. I look forward to the support of the Deputy and his party colleagues in achieving this objective. The purchase of the site at Thornton and the ongoing work to develop new prison facilities there represents a major step in this direction, as do my plans to develop a new prison on Spike Island.