Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views in respect of the proposed prison at Thornton Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21134/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The development of the prison facility centred at Thornton Hall will be the single biggest step in improving standards for prisoners since the foundation of the State. Its main purpose is to replace existing sub standard accommodation and allow greater capacity to avoid overcrowding. It will do away with the practice of slopping out and other conditions that have been criticised severely both by the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment (CPT) and the former Inspector of Prisons. It will address the pressures on prison capacity in the Dublin area and will have a wide range of educational, workshop and other facilities so that all prisoners can be productively engaged. In addition by reducing existing pressure on prison capacity in the Dublin area it will give greater flexibility in developing other prisons and its modern design and structure will make a significant contribution in seeking to eliminate the supply of drugs into our prisons. Accordingly, I am very much in favour of this project.