Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of plans to build a prison in Kilworth, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47700/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The replacement of Cork Prison with a modern prison complex at Kilworth, County Cork is currently being planned. Agreement has been reached with the Department of Defence to acquire about 160 acres at Kilworth, County Cork for the new prison development and Government approval for the transfer of the land has also been obtained. A preliminary site suitability report has confirmed that there are no significant constraints to the development of this site and in accordance with Department of Finance Capital Appraisal Guidelines a preliminary outline case has been completed and approved by the Prisons Authority Interim Board.

The Irish Prison Service estimate that the capacity of the new prison will be in the region of 450 spaces, 400 male and 50 female. These figures will be reviewed as the project progresses to detailed design stage and in light of prisoner population surveys. The next step in the appraisal process is the preparation of a detailed business case for the project which will examine the various procurement options including the Public Private Partnership option. The advice of the NDFA will be sought in relation to these issues in due course.