Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 40: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to a recent newspaper report (details supplied) which says that a site adjacent to Thornton Hall was sold for around €100,000 per acre, approximately half the price paid for the Thornton Hall site; if he will confirm that this site was also short listed for the possible prison; the reason this site was rejected; his views on whether the Thornton Hall site represents value for the taxpayers money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12903/07]

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

A 120 acre site at Corrstown was one of a number of sites selected for a detailed examination and rejected by the Mountjoy Complex Replacement Site Committee which consisted of officials of the IPS, the Dept of Justice Equality and Law Reform, one of the Commissioners for Public Works and an outside valuer. The examination by consulting engineers led to its being rejected as being unsuitable for the development of a major prison complex. The road access was not acceptable for a prison development, the shape of the site was not compatible with the intended campus layout and the land was undulating and would require considerable excavation to allow for necessary development.

The Committee concluded the purchase of a site, that was not fit for purpose, would not have represented value for the taxpayer's money regardless of the price paid. The Thornton site in contrast is an excellent site which provides good value for the taxpayer.

No land that was suitable for a prison and which was nearer to Dublin was identified by the committee as available for purchase at a lesser price and no such land has, to the knowledge of the Department or the IPS changed hands at less than €200,000 per acre since the purchase of Thornton.