Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number and location of prisons here; the number of prison spaces in each of these as of 4 May 2006; the number of prisoners in each of these by prison as of 4 May 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table and refers to numbers at unlock on the morning of 4 May, 2006.

The provision of approximately 1,300 new prison spaces in recent years, at considerable cost, has put the Irish Prison Service in a much better position to accommodate prisoners for the duration of their sentences than was the case during the "revolving door" era of the 1990s. However, with most of our prisons operating at or near full capacity, some accommodation difficulties occur from time to time. It should also be noted that this issue is not simply one of matching the global prisoner population to a global figure for beds or cells. A number of factors have to be taken into account including the prisoner's age, gender, the nature of the offence, location, security and whether they are on remand or sentenced.

The Deputy will also be aware of plans for two major prison developments, one in North County Dublin and the other on Spike Island, Co. Cork. It is intended that these new facilities will address the overcrowding difficulties that arise from time to time and they will offer significant improvements in the areas of work, training, educational and medical services for inmates as well as predominantly single cell accommodation with proper in-cell sanitation facilities.