Written answers

Tuesday, 5 April 2011

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Prison Accommodation

3:00 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 287: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to discontinue the practice of slopping out in State prisons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6466/11]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to the elimination of slopping out in all prisons and places of detention. Along with the proposal to review the Thornton Hall project, I would like to point out that the Programme for Government acknowledges the need to provide in-cell sanitation to all prisons, and in so far as resources permit, to upgrade prison facilities.

As things stand, I am informed by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) that 72% of prisoner accommodation has in-cell sanitation at present. I am told this will rise to in excess of 80% when the extension currently under construction in the Midlands Prison is opened in 2012.

A refurbishment project is also under way in the basement of the C–wing at Mountjoy prison which will result in an additional 36 cells with in-cell sanitation coming on stream by mid 2011. In addition, the IPS recently awarded a contract to provide in-cell sanitation in the remaining 74 cells on the same wing. Depending on the findings of a post project appraisal, the IPS will consider installing in-cell sanitation facilities in the remaining cells of that prison.

Finally, the IPS is currently appraising the logistical, financial, operational and other aspects of an outline proposal to provide in-cell sanitation in all cells in Cork Prison and all remaining cells in Limerick Prison that do not have in-cell sanitation. This appraisal will be informed by the evaluation of the Mountjoy 'C wing' project.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.