Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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503. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to eliminate the practice of slopping out across the Irish prison estate by developing the sanitation facilities in Portlaoise Prison; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6821/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has committed to the elimination of the practice referred colloquially as ‘slopping out’, through the provision of in cell sanitation in the older parts of the prison estate where that practice remained.

A number of major capital projects have been undertaken over the years with the primary objective of eliminating ‘slopping out’ as well as upgrading the cellular accommodation in those prisons.

A major refurbishment of Mountjoy Prison was completed in 2014 which included the provision of in cell sanitation and upgrade of the accommodation and in 2016 a new purpose designed modern prison opened in Cork, replacing the old prison facility.

Slopping out was ended in Limerick Prison, at the beginning of this year, with the completion of a project to deliver new accommodation at that location.

As a result there are only 8 prisoners, accommodated in the Portlaoise Prison E Block who do not have access to toilet facilities in their cell and must "slop out" on a daily basis.

The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has been completing engineering surveys on the E Block to explore the options of providing in-cell sanitation along with other work to upgrade the cellular accommodation having regard to the age and fabric of the building.

Works on the construction of a sample cell at E Block have taken place and the outcome of these works is being examined to determine the feasibility of installing in-cell sanitation to the Block. Any decision to commence a project to install in-cell sanitation to the E Block would be subject to a cost benefit analysis.