Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 92: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expertise of each member of the expert committee which qualified them as an expert in site selection for a prison to replace Mountjoy. [35095/06]

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

The members of the Committee established to review potential sites for a new prison facility to replace the Mountjoy complex were selected from the relevant organisations on the basis of their experience and expertise. They were as follows:

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Mr. J. Martin, Chairperson — Assistant Secretary with responsibilities in the prisons area, considerable experience in procurement procedures and a qualified barrister;

Ms A O'Gorman — Principal Officer in charge of the Prisons and Probation and Welfare Policy Division

Mr. F. Black — recent experience in acquiring properties for the Reception and Integration Agency

Irish Prison Service

Mr. J. Conlan — Director of Finance of the IPS and a qualified accountant

Mr. J. Boyle — Estate Management IPS, experience in site acquisition and prison construction and maintenance

Mr. S. Lennon — Prison Governor with considerable experience in the operation of prisons.

Office of Public Works

Mr. D. Byers — One of the Commissioners of Public Works with considerable experience in property acquisition and developing major projects and a qualified architect.

Expert advice was also available to the committee.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 93: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the proposed prison complex at Thornton Hall will contain halfway house or step down accommodation for pre-release and newly released offenders; if so, the provisions included in such accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35096/06]

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

The Thornton Hall Prison Project will provide specially designed facilities for prisoners in preparation for release particularly for those reaching the end of longer sentences in line with their sentence management. The new facility will enable the Prison Service to accommodate prisoners in a range of security levels.

These levels will include facilities and regimes which will cater for high security, stepping down to low security and pre-release prisoners. Each category, with an appropriate regime, will be accommodated in specially and individually designed buildings: an opportunity not heretofore afforded to any prison development in Ireland. Each category will have its own education, work training, recreational and support services areas. These will be located on a campus style development within a secure walled perimeter. There will be no accommodation for newly released prisoners or a halfway house facility on the Thornton Hall site.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 94: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the expenditure and the amount of each contract awarded under published tenders to date on the proposed prison complex at Thornton Hall by his Department, the Irish Prison Service and by the National Development Finance Agency. [35097/06]

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

The Irish Prison Service has, to date, awarded two contracts on foot of published tenders in relation to the Thornton Hall Prison project. These tenders were awarded following an EU tender competition, advertised in the European Union Journal.

One tender related to the appointment of consultants to undertake the supply of engineering and other special consultancy services to assist in the preliminary planning of the proposed new prison complex at Thornton Hall, North County Dublin. The consultancy services included engineering, civil, mechanical and electrical as well as archaeological services, flora and fauna, topographical and geophysical surveys. €510,703 has been spent on this tender to date.

The second tender was awarded in relation to the provision of architectural, engineering, master planning, quantity surveying, development of the project brief and project management services for the substantive project. €174,285 has been spent on this tender to date.

I am advised by the National Development Finance Agency that they have engaged a firm to supply assistance in Financial Evaluation, Taxation and Insurance Services in respect of the Thornton Hall Prison Project. Deloitte & Touche were selected as the winning firm in May 2006 following a competitive tender process involving six bidders. No expenditure has arisen under this Contract to date. The Contract is a fixed price contract and the amount of the contract is not disclosed as it is commercially sensitive.