Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the action he will take regarding overcrowding in the State's prisons in view of the fact that Thornton Hall is two years behind schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40303/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Over the last 12 months the numbers of persons in custody has increased by 10% and the total number of persons serving sentences has increased by 14%.

This indicates the effectiveness of this Government's policy of providing additional resources to the Gardaí and the Courts as well as the effectiveness of the substantive body of new criminal law enacted in recent years.

I am committed to continuing with the prison building programme in order to meet current and future anticipated demand for prison spaces. The record of this Government on putting resources into our prison system speaks for itself. Since 1997 in excess of 1,300 prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and a refurbished wing in Limerick Prison. Current developments will provide an extra 400 prison spaces by summer 2009 by means of:

a new block in Portlaoise Prison which will accommodate approximately 150 prisoners which is due to open in the coming months,

a new remand block in Castlerea Prison which will accommodate approximately 100 prisoners which is due to be completed in early 2009,

a new block in Wheatfield Prison which will accommodate 150 prisoners which is due to be completed in the summer of 2009.

Most recently over 30 extra spaces have been made available at the open centre at Shelton Abbey and a further 40 spaces have been made available at the open centre at Loughan House. It it important to bear in mind when we are talking about prison numbers that our prisons have contingency plans in place whereby they can accommodate numbers above their ideal working capacity.

These new developments will provide us with a significant level of new and refurbished accommodation until the opening of Thornton Hall.

It had been hoped to sign a contract before the end of this year. However while negotiations with the preferred bidder are at advanced stage they have not yet been completed and it is now clear that it will not be possible to have a contract signed this year. The construction of the new prison is expected to take three years from the date the contract is awarded.

All Public Private Partnerships involve a level of complexity but you will appreciate that the Thornton Hall project is particularly complex as it involves the construction of more than 30 buildings including 8 prison facilities as well as extensive rehabilitation facilities and perimeter security.

The overall Irish Prison Service capital programme will also ensure the elimination of the unacceptable practice of slopping out and will effectively complete the modernisation of the prison estate to meet best international standards in terms of custody, care and rehabilitative opportunities.