McDowell announces prison closures

The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has announced the closure of two prisons in a bid to cut the overtime bill within the Prison Service.

It follows the failure of ongoing talks at the Labour Relations Commission to find a compromise with prison officers on a new roster and overtime system.

Two are to close permanently: The Curragh will shut on January 19 and Fort Mitchell, on Spike Island in County Cork, will close on January 31.

Two other prisons will be replaced with institutions run independently of the Prison Service - Shelton Abbey, in Arklow, will close on February 14, while Loughan House, in Blacklion in County Cavan, will shut on February 28.

These last two will become hostels for prisoners at the end of their sentences.

Minister McDowell said that these closures may be reversed or cancelled if the talks at the LRC find a viable way to reduce the annual overtime bill, but both sides remain significantly divided on the issue.

The minister said prisons had been issued with their reduced overtime budgets for the coming year before Christmas.

Mr McDowell also said that he would be advertising in the EU journal next week for private prison escort services, to take effect from July.