James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the timeline he has agreed for the completion of the Thornton Hall project including the envisaged start date for building work and the envisaged completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19442/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The development of the new prison campus at Thornton Hall, County Dublin is proceeding on a phased basis. Phase one comprises essential enabling works required for the prison development. These works include the construction of the dedicated access road, perimeter security wall and various off-site services. Phase two of the project comprises the various prisoner accommodation blocks, workshops, education facilities and administration buildings.

Tenders for the design and construction of the access road to serve the prison development were issued in March this year. The competition is still in progress and it is anticipated that contract award will take place in June with construction work commencing on site in July.

It is intended that tender documents for various off-site works will be issued later this month with construction work expected to commence in September this year.

The tender documentation for the design and construction of the perimeter wall of the prison is currently at an advanced stage of preparation. It is intended to invite tenders for this phase of the project by the end of September with the construction work commencing immediately following the completion of the access road in January 2011. The construction of the perimeter wall is estimated to take about 12 months to complete.

The National Development Finance Agency acting on behalf of the Irish Prison Service, has initiated an EU wide tender competition for the appointment of multidisciplinary technical advisors for the project. The technical advisors will develop the output specification and other tender documents which will be the subject of a tender competition later this year. It is anticipated that the prison will be operational within 3 years from the commencement of construction of the main prison campus.