Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will expand on the proposals for the use of the old prison site at Rathmore Road, Cork city; if he will engage with the Irish Prison Service to ensure any extension to that facility includes a provision for community use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35407/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that it is proposed to use the Old Cork Prison site, as previously announced as part of a larger proposal to accelerate the delivery of six prison capital projects. Using an exemption from the initial approval stages of the infrastructure guidelines is expected to reduce delivery times by 12 to 18 months. This is part of the overall plan to increase prison capacity by 1,595.

The Future Prison Capacity Working Group was established in July 2024. The report outlines future prison population growth and acknowledges that building on existing prison campuses offers a number of benefits. It has identified the scope for development at a number of existing prisons, and building on two further sites; (i) the Old Cork Prison site and (ii) Thornton Hall site.

In order to deliver increased prison capacity the Irish Prison Service has developed a renewed capital plan that has the potential to deliver 1,595 additional spaces on existing sites across the prison estate, including Old Cork Prison.

In late 2023, Engineering Consultants were engaged by the IPS Estates Directorate to carry out a detailed assessment of the old Cork Prison facility and to provide a feasibility report on the site with various options for its use. The draft report received by the Irish Prison Service recommends the construction of a new prison on the site using modern methods of construction.

This project is at a very early stage of development.

My officials have assured me as the project progresses there will be stakeholder engagement as part of a considered planning process.