3 October 2006

Justice

Unacceptable conditions at Mountjoy Prison

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures taken to date by his Department and the Irish Prison Service to ameliorate the unacceptable conditions and overcrowding at Mountjoy Prison which led to a number of violent attacks during the summer of 2006, culminating in the death of an inmate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. 

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

I am actively pursuing the only viable long term remedy to the problems to which the Deputy refers, through constructing new prison facilities in Dublin and Munster. I hope that I can have the support of the Deputy and his colleagues in this regard. The new facilities will, in addition, offer significant improvements in the areas of work training, education and medical services as well as providing predominantly single cell accommodation with in-cell sanitation facilities. These are major undertakings involving replacement of close to 40% of the entire prison estate. They will take a number of years to complete but it is my intention that they will proceed as quickly as possible.

In the interim appropriate strategic measures are being taken. As the major committal prison in the State, Mountjoy was susceptible to short term pressures on accommodation arising from sudden influxes of prisoners sentenced by the Courts, sometimes late in the evening.

With effect from 1 September 2006, I have designated Wheatfield Prison and the Midlands Prison as committal prisons for certain male adult prisoners sentenced by courts. This will significantly reduce the numbers being committed to Mountjoy in the first instance and make for a somewhat more stable and manageable prisoner population there.

In addition the two holding cells in the B Base Mountjoy have been closed. One of the cells is being converted into a 4 shower unit for prisoners accommodated in the Base. The other cell is being refurbished to provide one single occupancy cell. A2 and A3 landings of Mountjoy prison are to be re-opened following refurbishment. There are 42 cells on each landing. The re-opening of these landings will result in a significant increase in the number of single occupancy cells in the prison.

The Deputy will be aware that I have appointed Mr. Michael Mellett to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death in Mountjoy and to make appropriate recommendations. I await his report.