Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on plans for the old Cork prison. [43009/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the former Cork prison was built in the early 1800s and served as a military detention barracks until it was transferred to the ownership of the Department of Justice in 1972. The building was closed in February 2016 following the construction of new prison facilities on a site opposite the old prison as part of the Irish Prison Service modernisation programme and capital plan for the prison estate.

I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that preliminary discussions have taken place with a number of bodies as to possible future uses of the site. These discussions have, to date, been exploratory in nature.

The Irish Prison Service is increasingly of the view that the site of the former Cork prison remains of strategic interest to the Irish Prison Service, particularly in light of the latest and likely future increases in prisoner numbers. However, no specific or detailed proposals in relation to the former Cork prison are currently under consideration.