Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the capacity of prisons here; the capacity of each institution under the management of the Irish Prison Service; the number of prisoners by institution currently being accommodated here; the amount by which the accommodation capacity of the Irish Prison Service will expand for each of the years 2006 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33994/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The capacity and number of prisoners in prison custody on 23 October 2006, is set out in the table below:-

Where the number in custody exceeds the normal bed capacity alternative accommodation arrangements are made to accommodate the temporary increase in numbers.

The Prison Service five year capital building programme has been prepared, details of which are set out below. The main objectives of the capital programme are as follows:

Provide a predominantly single cell model,

eliminate the practice of slopping out,

accommodate prisoners in a range of security levels consistent with the prisoners circumstances,

as far as possible, operate each prison complex as a single campus with shared facilities,

provide accommodation in anticipation of future growth in the prison population.

Additional Prison Places to be provided:

2007138 at Portlaoise Prison, 61 at Loughan House, 60 at Shelton Abbey, 12 at Castlerea Prison

2008146 at Wheatfield Prison, 60 at Castlerea Prison

200950 at Limerick Prison

20101,400 at Thornton Hall Prison PPP Project

2011450 at Spike Island.

It should be noted that the net increase in capacity will be less than the additional spaces referred to above as, for example, the Mountjoy complex and Cork prison will be withdrawn from service in due course.