Mountjoy cell project brings end to ‘slopping out’ closer
Prison bosses are also considering proposals to refit an entire block, comprising 63 cells, with toilets and have suggested the renovation project might be extended to the other three blocks.
It marks a major development for a prison which has been repeatedly condemned, nationally and internationally, for “inhumane and degrading” toilet conditions.
Inmates use the same “slop out bucket” in front of each other in chronically overcrowded cells, where they also eat their meals.
Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, said inmates have to queue and empty the contents of the buckets “in a chaotic manner” into disposal units and sometimes into bins.
He said the contents can splash onto the floor and sometimes onto prisoners on lower landings.
The situation has been worsened by a constant and significant rise in the prison population, which stood at 700 last month. Judge Reilly said it should be kept, at a maximum, to 540.
In response, the Irish Prison Service has decided to “upgrade and recommission” 36 cells in the basement of C wing at the Dublin jail.
“A feature of the upgrade is that each of the 36 cells in the basement will be provided with a flushing toilet and a wash hand basin,” said an IPS spokesman.
“Work is expected to be completed in July 2011 and the contract value of this project is €1.3m.”
He told the Irish Examiner that the intention was to use the basement as a committal area for offenders just sent to the prison by the courts. He said the cells had double capacity, meaning the basement could hold 72 people.
There are three landings in the wing, and 64 of the 65 cells have no toilets.
He said an invitation to tender for this project had been issued to the eight member firms of the IPS’s construction framework agreement. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 30 January 30.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
