Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will respond to the people of Cobh, County Cork who have established a committee to save Spike Island heritage, by not building a new security prison on Spike Island; if he will stop the building of a bridge connecting Spike Island to the mainland; and if he will aid in the promotion and development of Spike Island as a national heritage site. [24536/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is my intention to proceed with the building of a new prison complex at Spike Island.

The new prison facilities will address the overcrowding difficulties in Cork Prison and will enable the Prison Service to offer significant improvements in the area of work training, education and medical facilities as well as providing predominantly single cell accommodation with in-cell sanitation facilities. The construction of a bridge will facilitate the development of the new prison complex.

The implications, if any, on the heritage, archaeology or related aspects of the proposed developments will be addressed in detail in the course of the planning process which will be undertaken in due course. At that stage, all of the relevant material including properly balanced assessments of the various issues, including archaeology, will be made available as part of the public consultation process which should commence possibly later this year.