Over €1bn earmarked for new prisons

ALMOST half of the total spend in the justice and equality sector, €2.82 billion, has been earmarked for the provision of new prisons in the national development plan.

An unprecedented €1.230bn will be spent on capital programmes across the prisons, juvenile detention and probation service.

The Irish Prisons Service will orchestrate a major capital programme involving the replacement of four prisons on the Mountjoy campus.

“It is also proposed to provide a new complex at a location in Munster to replace Cork Prison and the facility at Spike Island,” the Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell said yesterday.

There is also an allocation of €352m to the gardaí for the provision of new stations and forensic science facilities.

The Courts Service capital programme is €504m richer and youth justice restorative/diversion/detention programmes have been allocated €224m.

There will be €300m spent on the rehabilitation of prisoners and immigrant integration programmes will get €36.25m.

On programmes to promote gender equality and tackle domestic violence, €148m will be spent by the Government.

Anti-racism measures will be funded to the tune of €11.23m and on social and economic measures to support the traveller community €15.62m will be spent.

Mr McDowell, said “the delivery of the Department’s broad remit and its effective application of an annual spend of over €2 billion strongly support the implementation of the National Development Plan which aims to increase the capacity of Ireland’s economy to maintain strong and sustainable growth in output and employment.

“My department’s involvement in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 reflects these social inclusion issues as well as ongoing changes in Irish society,” he said.

The second element for the development of prisons aims to plan and deliver on the redevelopment of existing youth justice detention facilities and the development of new facilities to meet the statutory requirement of the Children Act 2001 in respect of offending children under 18 years sentenced to detention by the courts, the minister said.

“The Government is committed to improving the standard of Garda stations and facilities throughout the State as well as the provision of a new forensic science laboratory.

“I am pleased with the allocation of €352m towards the provision of appropriate support facilities for An Garda Síochána as this is of crucial importance to the effective operation of a modern police force. The plan will make available the funding required to address these needs, through the continued development of IT and communications infrastructure and equipment, as well as the additional accommodation requirements as the force expands towards 15,000,” the Tánaiste said.