David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will report on recent developments in Government plans to construct a prison in Kilworth, County Cork; if he has had contact with groups who have concerns in relation to the new prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21071/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government decided to assign a site owned by the Department of Defence to the Irish Prison Service as the location for the development of a prison facility to replace Cork Prison and serve the Munster region. A preliminary site suitability report has been carried out on the site and this has confirmed that there are no significant constraints to the development of this site.

I can confirm also that the Prison Service Interim Board, in accordance with Department of Finance Guidelines, has approved a preliminary Business Case for this project and has forwarded it to my Department for sanction to proceed to the next stage of the process. I see the Prison Service moving to the next stage of the process, the preparation of a detailed Business Case, in the near future. There have been meetings with the local community and future meetings in relation to the proposed development will be held as the project progresses.