Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 689 of 6 October 2009, the cost of additional planting work; the cost of the maintenance contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35494/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that when granting development consent for the Thornton prison project, the Oireachtas decided to increase the planted zone in order to mitigate the visual and aural impact of the development. The initial landscape contract for the Thornton Hall site comprised the planting of approximately 3,700 linear metres of the boundary of the site with trees and shrubs within a 10 metre wide belt, fencing the boundary planted zone as well as the aftercare/maintenance of the planting zone. Such work included, control of weeds and grass growth, adjustments/maintenance of fencing, tree staking, and replacement of any dead or failed plants. The cost of this aftercare/maintenance work was approximately €30,000 excluding VAT and was incurred over the period 2006 to end 2008.

A new contract was recently awarded following a tender competition to a landscape company to undertake the installation of over 2,200 woodland plants at the Thornton Hall site as well as the maintenance of the planted zone at a total cost of €15,300 excluding VAT. This includes the estimated cost of the additional planting of €3,500. It is anticipated that the additional planting work will commence next month. The maintenance element of the contract is estimated at approximately €11,800 and provides for the strimming of planted areas, follow up with weed control measures, remove all tree stakes and tree ties, adjust/repair the protective fences. These works will provide effective maintenance of the planted areas until Spring 2010. The requirement for further maintenance work will be reviewed at that time.

Consideration is currently being given to undertaking further additional planting. This work is expected to commence later this year and continue into 2010. It is not possible at this time to disclose the cost of this work for procurement reasons as it will be the subject of a tender competition. The Director General of the Irish Prison Service is satisfied that undertaking the boundary planting scheme, which commenced in 2005, will contribute very significantly to reducing the visual and aural impact of the development and will benefit the local environment.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 689 of 6 October 2009, the value of single farm payment entitlements on the property at the time of purchase; if these entitlements were transferred with the property; if their value was taken into consideration when negotiating the purchase price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35495/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of a single farm payment entitlement did not arise in the course of the negotiations, subsequent purchase and conveyance of the property as there was no intention to use the land for agricultural activity. No such entitlements formed part of the transaction. As such, I am not aware of the monetary value (if any) of any such entitlement which may have been applicable at the time of purchase.