Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extent of prison cell overcrowding at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19763/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On 10 May, 2010 there were 4,214 persons in custody compared to a bed capacity of 4,066.

As the Deputy will appreciate the Irish Prison Service must accept all prisoners committed by the Courts into its custody and do not have the option of refusing committals. Overcrowding in prisons is an international problem and is not unique to Ireland. It is the case that there has been a consistent increase in the total prisoner population over recent years. This situation is particularly apparent over the past 12 months during which time the total number in custody has increased by 308. This represents an approximate 8% of a rise in the number in custody.

The Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces. Since 1997 in excess of 1,720 new prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick, Portlaoise and Castlerea prisons and at the open centres in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House.

Current projects will see a further 200 prison spaces provided in the short term by means of a new block in Wheatfield. In addition, we hope to proceed in late 2010 with a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise/Midlands prisons complex which will provide 300 prison spaces in the medium term.

The Deputy will also be aware of the Government's commitment to developing a new prison campus at Thornton Hall, County Dublin. The new prison facility will provide approximately 1,400 cells and will have operational flexibility to accommodate up to 2,200 in a range of security settings.

The development is now proceeding on a phased basis with phase one comprising essential enabling works required for the development including the construction of the dedicated access road, perimeter wall and off-site services. Tenders for the construction of the access road were published in March of this year and tenders for the construction of the perimeter wall will be published in September.

Phase 2 will include the development of the main prison campus. The detailed appraisal is underway in accordance with Department of Finance Capital Expenditure Guidelines and the new business case is at an advanced stage of preparation.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of prison places lost through the closure of Spike Island, County Cork and the Curragh Prison, County Kildare; the degree to which it is intended to compensate for such closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19764/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of 1,720 new prison places since 1997 has more then compensated for closed locations which for operational and financial reasons were no longer viable as prisons. The capacity of Spike Island and the Curragh fluctuated over the years and any potential loss in capacity has been more than offset by the bringing into operation of previously unused prison spaces and improvements to the prison estate. In particular, the opening of a new wing in Limerick Prison fully offset the loss of Fort Mitchel and the lost capacity in the case of the Curragh Place of Detention was completely offset by the bringing into operation of previously unopened spaces in the Midlands Prison.

Shanganagh Castle was sold and the money received covered in full the cost of the site at Thornton Hall. The Curragh Prison has been returned to the Department of Defence. It was in a very run down condition and the redevelopment of the prison did not make economic or operational sense. Spike Island also had a number of operational deficiencies, the single biggest one being that it was an island requiring the services of a ferry. A further difficulty was that virtually all its cellular accommodation consisted of low ceiling five person cells unsuitable for holding its inmate cohort mostly young males under 21 years of age.

The Irish Prison Service has been engaged in an extensive programme of investment in prisons infrastructure which has involved both the modernisation of the existing estate and the provision of extra prison spaces. Since 1997 in excess of 1,720 new prison spaces have come on stream in the prison system. These include the new prisons in Castlerea, the Midlands, Cloverhill, the Dóchas Centre and new accommodation in Limerick, Portlaoise and Castlerea prisons and at the open centres in Shelton Abbey and Loughan House.

Current projects will see a further 200 prison spaces provided in the short term by means of a new block in Wheatfield. In addition, it is envisaged to proceed in late 2010 with a new accommodation block in the Portlaoise/Midlands prisons complex which will provide 300 prison spaces in the medium term.

The Deputy will also be aware of the Government's commitment to developing a new prison campus at Thornton Hall, County Dublin. The new prison campus will have approximately 1,400 cells on a 130 acre site. The new prison facility will have operational flexibility to accommodate up to 2,200 in a range of security settings.

The development is now proceeding on a phased basis with phase one comprising essential enabling works required for the development including the construction of the dedicated access road, perimeter wall and off-site services. Tenders for the construction of the access road were published in March of this year and tenders for the construction of the perimeter wall will be published in September.

Phase 2 will include the development of the main prison campus. The detailed appraisal is underway in accordance with Department of Finance Capital Expenditure Guidelines and the new business case is at an advanced stage of preparation.