Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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703. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions which were taken by his Department between receiving the Death in Custody Investigation Report on 18 July 2025 for a person (details supplied) on 12 January 2023, and its publication by the department on 30 October 2025. [60997/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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An initial version of the report referenced by the Deputy was submitted to me by the Inspector of Prisons on 18 July 2025. There was engagement between my Department and the Inspectorate before a final version was received on 28 August 2025.

Separately, the Irish Prison Service submitted an action plan to my Department in response to the recommendations in the report.

The report and associated action plan were then considered by my Department before being published together on 30 October 2025. It is the practice, where possible, to publish the report and action plan together.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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704. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action he will take to implement the recommendations in the Death in Custody Investigation Report for a person (details supplied). [60998/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of the Inspector of Prisons investigates all deaths in custody, as well as any death of a prisoner on temporary release occurring within one month of release.

In respect of the case referenced, the Inspector made eight recommendations, primarily focussed on the healthcare and operational management of prisoners suspected of internal concealment of contraband.

Six of these recommendations were accepted or partially accepted by the Irish Prison Service, five of which have already been implemented, with progress ongoing on one further recommendation. Two recommendations were not accepted.

The Irish Prison Service treats all recommendations from the Inspector as valuable opportunities for learning and improvement. Implementation of recommendations is monitored closely to ensure that changes are embedded into practice.

The report and the detailed action plan outlining the implementation of recommendations were published by the Department on 30 October 2025. (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/publications/office-of-the-inspector-of-prisons-death-in-custody-investigation-report-mr-c-2023/)

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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705. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his Department's plans to redevelop the Old Cork Prison site as a new prison; if the interests of the Land Development Agency in terms of the site have been set aside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61002/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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706. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the approach that will be taken to the redevelopment of the Old Cork Prison with regard to architectural heritage; in particular with regard to those parts of the site that are included in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (viz. Cork Prison, Cork Prison: Prison Walls); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61003/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 706 together.

My Department and I are committed to the development of modern fit for purpose facilities across the Prison Estate.

To support this, a record capital investment of €527 million is being provided to IPS over the next 5 years, of which €495 million will be invested in building projects to further increase capacity. This will provide for the largest investment in the prison estate in the history of the State. The target is to deliver 1,595 individual prison spaces by 2031. This includes a new prison on the site of the old Cork prison, a new block in Wheatfield, an additional block extension at Midlands prison, and additional spaces at Castlerea, Mountjoy, Cloverhill, Portlaoise, Limerick and Dóchas.

The former Cork Prison ceased to operate as an operational prison in February 2016 following the opening of a new facility on a site immediately adjacent to the old prison. Once operations were transferred to the new facility, the former prison facility was closed and decommissioned.

Following the closure a number of statutory and non-statutory groups considered the site for potential use and it was included as a potential location for social and affordable housing in the Land Development Agency's (LDA) Report to Government on Relevant Public Land/Sites. The Irish Prison Service has had engagements with the LDA and the strategic interest of the site for potential use by the Irish Prison Service was noted by both bodies. On that basis, I am advised that consideration was not given to using the site for social and affordable housing.

In addition, there was interest expressed locally in using the site for community use, however, I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that no formal proposal was submitted for consideration.

The proposed project at the Old Cork Prison is to deliver new accommodation for possibly male and female prisoners with an estimated completion date of 2031. As such, the Deputy will appreciate that planning for the project remains at a very early stage. My officials have assured me as the project progresses there will be stakeholder engagement as part of a considered planning process.